Hamilton's downtown cenotaph has stood for decades as a sombre reminder of Canada's military history – but a newly renovated Gore park has some wondering if the heart of our city has become too "militarized."

The opening ceremony for the new Veteran's Place section of Gore Park happens Friday, and visitors will no doubt see many differences.

In recent months, city staff installed nine photo displays as part of a $2.2 million makeover. Each of the displays cost $34,250, with a larger memorial wall costing $147,000.

It's difficult to represent in a way that works for those who are opposed to war. - Lee-Ann Seely, city manager of landscape architectural services

They stand in stark contrast to the cenotaph (which was also moved and reconstructed as part of the project alongside landscaping).

Though some displays highlight historic photos from the first and second World Wars, many others feature modern warfare. There are photos of Canadian soldiers with children overseas and another of soldiers carrying a casket draped with the Canadian flag, emblazoned with words like "hope," "community," and "courage." Other panels include the words "valour," "duty," and "sacrifice."

One of the photos even includes a Canadian forces recruitment ad that says, "join us" in bold letters.

'These feel like marketing for The Canadian Forces'

In a recent column, Hamilton Spectator columnist Andrew Dreschel said the park could now pull double duty as an "armed forces recruitment centre" filled with "advertising placards."

"Frankly, they bear an uncomfortable resemblance to bus shelter ads," he wrote.

"Unfortunately, the new features intended to complement the historic cenotaph have, presumably unintentionally, militarized the park."

Raise the Hammer editor and urban issue activist Ryan McGreal calls the changes "stark and aggressive."

"It's like they're trying to make the place as unsettling as possible," McGreal told CBC Hamilton. "The cenotaph was a place of reverence, but these feel like marketing for the Canadian Forces."

The imagery the city used was actually chosen by a committee that included veterans and currently serving military members, says Lee-Ann Seely, the city's manager of landscape architectural services.

"They didn't want it to be 'museum-y,'" Seely said. "They wanted it to be a recognition of all service to Canada as a country."

Both the committee and the city knew going in that this was going to be a sensitive issue, she says, especially with the modern imagery. "It's something people care deeply about," she said. "I really do think there's a value in representing the people who continue to serve and protect."

"It's difficult to represent in a way that works for those who are opposed to war."

'I think we need to see it'

But McGreal says it's not about being "opposed to war" per se. He says he supports the goal of honouring Hamilton's veterans – the issue here is placement.

Displays like these might work better near a place like the city's Dieppe Memorial down on the beach strip, he says. But in a place that the city wants to "pedestrianize" with places to eat and relax, it just feels out of place.

"I do think there's a role and a place for it – just not here," he said. "I'd say the centre of downtown Hamilton is not the place to make people feel unsettled about the realities of war."

On a sunny Thursday afternoon, some people were sitting in Gore Park enjoying the sunshine and eating lunch. Eileen Bellai was one of them.

Nothing about the displays seemed off and inappropriate to her, she said. "I think we need to see it. This could be our kids," she said. "It's a nice way to tie everything together.

"These aren't just things that happened years ago."

Volunteers will lead visitors through Veteran's Place as part of the "smart space" digital storytelling project starting at 3 p.m. Friday.

Musical performances by the bands of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada follow at 7:45 p.m. with the official opening ceremony happening at 8:15 p.m.

adam.carter@cbc.ca | @AdamCarterCBC