Maybe you walk your dog in the park. Or watch for the red-tailed hawks that can be heard and sometimes seen high in the trees. Maybe you walk or bike through the park on your way home or to get to College St., passing through green space as part of your commute. In the summer, the park is filled with babies, picnickers, dogs, sun worshippers, a regular crew of bocce players, kids and wedding parties. 

But who was Fred Hamilton, the park’s namesake?

Who was Fred Hamilton?

Fred Hamilton (1893-1958), resident of this community,
 accomplished baseball player in his youth, winner of numerous league, city and provincial championships as a player and later manager with the Osler Baseball Club, played many games in this park.

Baseball fame propelled Fred into politics: he was first elected Ward 5 Alderman in 1929 and championed the expansion of sports facilities and youth programs throughout his 16 years representing this ward on City Council. He served as City Controller from 1937 to the mid-1940s. 

A review of his municipal record shows his top priority was to improve the city’s parks, playgrounds and sporting venues – he never forgot his early years in striving to enhance the lives and opportunities of young people, whatever their race, colour, creed or religion. The competitive spirit of fair play and equal treatment from the playing field was a shining beacon that he always lived by – and expected of others.

In retirement, Fred continued campaigning for changes to city rules to allow amateur and professional sports on Sundays. On Jan. 2, 1950, the City of Toronto election asked voters to also cast a yes/no vote to permit the city to seek legislation making all sports permissible on Sundays. Despite major objections from the church community, the vote succeeded. The city then asked the province to introduce a bill amending the provincial Lord’s Day Act allowing the city, with only minor exceptions, to make their own bylaws about Sunday sports, which was passed the following year. 

Toronto Daily Star, Friday, Jan. 30, 1948, p. 15.

Pictured above is a newspaper clipping from Fred’s family scrapbook. Here’s a transcription: 

On June 18, 1946, the City of Toronto combined Acorn Park and John Dunn Playground into a new park named “Fred Hamilton Playground” in recognition of Fred’s lifetime commitment to youth sports. Stay tuned for more history of our local park!

The Friends of Roxton Road Parks would like to thank Fred Hamilton’s son, also named Fred (1931-2022), his wife Joan, and family, for their ongoing support and contributing many amenities in this park including designated trees, the benches looking out over the playground,  the water feature and the new junior playground equipment to be installed in Spring of 2026.

The Friends of Roxton Road Parks acknowledge that this land is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Sources: City of Toronto Archives, The Hamilton family scrapbook, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star Archives, City of Toronto Indigenous Affairs Office.