Montreal, April 23, 2024 /CNW/ – The City of Montreal is proud to announce that a new sponge park, the largest to date on its territory, will be created in the borough of Verdun.
The park, which will be developed near Joseph and Dupuis streets, on the land adjoining the drinking water plant Atwaterwill have an area of approximately 4,300 m², the equivalent of more than 10 basketball courts, and will significantly reduce the risk of flooding in this residential sector located in a basin.
Future sponge park in the borough of Verdun (CNW Group/City of Montreal – Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee)
Future sponge park in the borough of Verdun (CNW Group/City of Montreal – Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee)
The new park will be divided into three distinct spaces:
- a grassy plain with a relaxation area, a free play area, a cycling stop and a training area where accessible and inclusive street furniture will be installed;
- a dog park;
- a rural area with planting plants.
Concretely, rue Dupuis will be resurfaced with a slight slope towards the park and passages will be built under the sidewalk to let water flow directly into the park. Drainage tree pits will also be built along the park to allow water to infiltrate into the ground. These arrangements will make it possible to temporarily retain nearly 1,067,000 liters of rainwater, or more than 40% of the capacity of an Olympic swimming pool, making it the first project of this magnitude in Montreal. The street will have more than 305 m² of sponge infrastructure such as draining vegetated pits.
“At a time when the entire world is faced with the consequences of climate change, we have a responsibility to put in place concrete measures to adapt to this new reality. Sponge infrastructures are part of the solution, because they reduce the risk of flooding in vulnerable areas by capturing as much rainwater as possible, instead of directing it towards the sewer network. We are accelerating actions to adapt the territory and protect the quality of life in all neighborhoods of the metropolis, to meet current needs and those of future generations,” declared Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
“The most important sponge park in Montreal will see the light of day Verdun and I’m delighted. This exemplary project, which combines business with pleasure, will reduce the risk of water accumulation in the streets of this very vulnerable area during heavy rains. The use of City land, that of the factory Atwater, not only allows us to develop this new resilient park, which will reduce the risk of flooding, but also to offer people in the neighborhood quality amenities, brand new street furniture and a dog park. Everybody wins! At a time of climate change, the City continues to take advantage of every opportunity to improve the adaptation capacity of its territory,” added the mayor of the borough of VerdunMarie-Andrée Mauger.
The development of the park is part of an overall project of reconstruction of underground infrastructure, integration of a new geometry of Joseph and Dupuis streets and surface redevelopment, which includes new lighting, reconstruction of the cycle path and the installation of two charging stations for electric vehicles.
Work related to this project should begin within a few weeks and be completed in the fall of 2025.
The new sponge park, with a retention capacity of 1,067,000 liters of water, will be ranked 1er row of sponge parks in Montreal, in front of Pierre-Dansereau park, at Outremont, whose retention capacity is 627,000 liters, and Howard Park, in Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, whose capacity is 624,000 liters. For comparison, the Place des Fleurs-de-Macadam, on the Plateau-Mont Royalmakes it possible to retain 160,000 liters of rainwater and runoff.
The new sponge park Verdun will be added to the other parks, public squares, sidewalks and sponge streets currently being developed in Montreal and whose total retention capacity now reaches 1.87 million liters of water.
To download images: https://we.tl/t-qPYNSu3Tv3
Source City of Montreal – Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee
Information: Source: Béatrice Saulnier-Yelle, Press Attaché, Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee, 438 354-8017; Information: Media Relations, City of Montreal, [email protected]
