The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ms.me Andrée Laforest, is proud to announce, along with the Mayor of Montreal, Ms.me Valérie Plante, that a sum of $7,958,543 was granted to the City of Montreal for the resilient development of Pierre-Bédard Park.
The project, a “sponge” development, consists of improving the resilience of the area around the park in the face of flood risks. The Pierre-Bédard resilient park will combine existing green, leisure and social spaces with developments that will allow water retention. The retention capacity will be approximately 4,000 m³ of water, or 4 million litres of water, which is the equivalent of nearly two Olympic swimming pools.
Specifically, the work aims to redirect surface water, by reconfiguring certain streets in the area, towards green infrastructures that allow the retention and infiltration of water into the park.
By reducing the amount of water that can accumulate in the streets, the work will ensure the safety of people and the protection of their property in the area bounded by De Cadillac, Bossuet and Louis-Veuillot streets, between Rosemont Boulevard and Pierre-Bédard Street, as well as Pierre-Bédard Street, between Lacordaire and Du Quesne streets.
Quotes:
“Our government is once again demonstrating today its commitment to implementing sustainable solutions to address climate change. Unfortunately, we are increasingly seeing events that highlight the importance of better planning our territory, which is why we are supporting the municipal sector in this regard. I am very proud of this project at Pierre-Bédard Park, which will reduce the consequences of flooding in the area.”
Andrée Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs
“This significant financial support from the Government of Quebec accelerates our administration’s ongoing efforts to adapt the territory and reduce the impacts suffered by the population due to climate change and more frequent flooding. Accelerating the upgrading of our underground infrastructure, in addition to the sponge developments that we are increasing throughout Montreal, are essential actions for the future of Montreal and the quality of life of the population.”
Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal
“I am proud of our government’s investments in the fight against climate change on the Island of Montreal. I hope that this new development, a flood-resilient park, will make a real difference during episodes of heavy rain, events that are increasingly common and cause a flow rate that far exceeds the capacity of the area’s underground drainage network.”
Karine Boivin Roy, Member of Parliament for Anjou-Louis-Riel
“It is essential to develop our neighbourhoods to make our living environments more resilient to spring floods and intense rain events that are increasing with climate change. I applaud the project presented today, the result of a considerable investment by our government to protect our fellow citizens and a significant step in Montreal’s socio-ecological transition.”
Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action and Member of Parliament for Pointe-aux-Trembles
“The development of the largest sponge park in Montreal is a concrete measure that has been eagerly awaited by residents of Mercier-Ouest, an area particularly affected by flooding. The announcement of this project is the result of a long process of consultation and participation by citizens, combined with the efforts of engineers and professionals who have found effective solutions to reduce the risks of flooding in the neighbourhood.”
Pierre Lessard-Blais, Mayor of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Highlights:
- The financial assistance comes from the $345 million Flood Resilience and Adaptation Program (PRAFI), which is under the responsibility of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH). The Resilient Development component of this program aims to support the municipal sector in carrying out resilient developments to increase the safety of people and the protection of property in built environments in the face of hazards related to flooding and the mobility of waterways.
- Let us highlight the involvement of the Bassin Saint-Laurent Ouest project office and the PRAFI program team who supported the City of Montreal in preparing the Pierre-Bédard Park project and thus contributed to the development of a sustainable solution to better protect living environments from flooding.
- Let us recall that the 10 project offices set up in priority watersheds facing recurring flooding issues offer support to municipal organizations, particularly for the submission of projects within the framework of the PRAFI.
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