Hamilton to memorialize 11-year-old Jude Strickland with new playground equipment
Hamilton will be honouring 11-year-old Jude Strickland and his contribution to the community with new playground equipment and a plaque at Eleanor Park on the Mountain.
Jude was taken from us and his family way too soon in life," said Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson. For an 11-year-old, I can't get over the popularity of this young man. The number of people who loved, who offered sympathies towards this young man is astounding."
The city, in consultation with the Strickland family, Templemead School officials and neighbourhood residents, will install a new play structure to replace the aging equipment already in place that will immortalize" the 11-year-old, said Jackson.
The equipment will be named the Jude Strickland Play Structure, including a climber, which Jackson said Strickland loved" to play on at Eleanor Park, located at 80 Presidio Drive in Ward 6 near Templemead Elementary School. In addition, a commemorative plaque also will be installed.
The cost, approved by the March 21 planning committee, will be $220,300, with the city contributing $100,000, and Jackson contributing $120,300 from the Ward 6 special capital re-investment reserve fund.
Jackson said he wants to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new play structure and memorial this summer.
Strickland died two days after being struck December 2020 by a pickup truck near Royal Vista Drive, a side street off Upper Gage between Stone Church and Rymal Road. Police say the vehicle failed to stop for both the traffic light and the crossing guard. Strickland was a student at Templemead Elementary School.
Jackson said he will discuss further with staff and the Strickland family about the final design for the play structure. Councillors will vote on the recommendation at its March 30 meeting.
Since the tragedy, Jackson has introduced a series of traffic calming measures throughout the ward and within the Templemead neighbourhood, including digital speed signs, countdown timers, speed cushions, and speed limit reductions.
- With files from the Hamilton Spectator