Official Name:
Durand Park is named after Captain James Durand (1775-1833), a Hamilton politician and businessman, who came to Montreal from Wales, England, first in 1799, and then again in 1802. He worked in York (Toronto), Norfolk (Simcoe) and Long Point, then moved to the future site of Hamilton in 1805. There Durand bought a farm from Widow Springer. That farm would today be the land between James St., Main St., Wellington St. and Concession. He built what was probably the first stone house in Barton Township at the top of John St., opened the first general store, and bought other lands in Toronto, Ancaster and London.
Before the War of 1812, Capt. Durand suggested the government make his farm the site of a new town. However, the war changed things. Capt. Durand moved his family to Smith's Creek (Belleville) in January 1815, because of financial problems and damages caused by the war, and his new plan to open a salt works. Durand sold his ... hectare (257 acre) land to George Hamilton for $3,000. Later, the City of Hamilton was named after this same Mr. Hamilton, when he built a court house for the area at about the site originally suggested by Durand.
Many years later, Durand Park was created thanks to the work of the Durand Neighbourhood Association. Organized in 1972, the Association originally fought to preserve the older buildings of the Durand neighbourhood. They supported height limits on new buildings in the area, and convinced the City to buy certain properties to build a park instead of apartment buildings.
The City bought the first property for Durand Park from Ronark Developments in July 1974. Park development was finished on October 4, 1974. 40 people attended the Durand Park opening in September 1975. More property was added to the park first from the estate of Jean E. Haslett and Ronark Developments in 1975, and second from the estate of E. Newton-Brady in 1976.
At one point, the Association wanted to keep the house at 264 Park Ave. S. for a "community house". Their plan was to use it for day care, short-term baby sitting, and special interest groups. However, the City decided against it, believing that the house and programs would be too expensive.
Since 1975, the neighbourhood has held the Durand Park Flea Market every fall. Profit from the first flea market went towards buying playground equipment for the park. The equipment was installed in 1977.
