Montreal set to build its largest sponge park in Verdun

The City of Montreal has announced that a new sponge park will be built in Verdun.

The park will be the largest one built in the borough. It will near Joseph Street and Dupuis Street, next to the Atwater water plant.

A sponge park is a green space that naturally absorbs rainfall instead of draining water directly into the sewer system. The goal is to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.

On Tuesday, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said cities have a responsibility to adapt to the new reality of climate change.

“We are stepping up our efforts to adapt the territory and protect the quality of life in all of the city’s neighbourhoods, to meet the needs of today and future generations,” she said. “What we’re trying to do, is to take off some pressure so hopefully it doesn’t affect people’s home and their lives.”

According to a city press release, the park will have a surface area of around 4,300 metres, which is equivalent to more than 10 basketball courts.

“Sponge infrastructure is part of the solution, as it reduces the risk of flooding in vulnerable areas by capturing as much rainwater as possible, rather than directing it into the sewer system,” explained Plante. “Flash rain will happen even more and more often because of climate change. There isn’t one solution and what we try to do is to support the underground system network we have but also support the surface network as well.”

The park will be laid out with three areas: a dog park; a countryside area with planted vegetation; and a grassy plain relaxation area, where playing, cycling, and training will be allowed, and street furniture will be installed.

Verdun Mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger said it’s a win-win situation to build the park in her district.

“This exemplary project, which combines the practical with the pleasurable, will reduce the risk of water accumulating in the streets of this highly vulnerable area during heavy rainfall,” Mauger said. “The use of land owned by the city, the Atwater factory site, will not only make it possible to create this new resilient park, which will reduce the risk of flooding, but will also provide local residents with quality landscaping, brand new street furniture and a dog park.”

Dupuis Street will be resurfaced with a slight slope towards the park, and passages will be built underneath the pavement to allow water to flow directly into the park, the press release notes.

Additionally, drainage tree trenches will be built along the length of the park to allow water to seep into the ground.

These features will temporarily retain almost 1,067,000 litres of rainwater, which is more than 40 per cent of the capacity of an Olympic swimming pool, making it the first project of this scale in Montreal.

On the street, there will be more than 305 square metres of sponge-like infrastructure in the form of draining vegetated pits.

“In this era of climate change, the city continues to take every opportunity to improve its ability to adapt,” added Mauger.

The project is set to begin in a few weeks, with completion scheduled for fall 2025.

One Verdun resident CityNews spoke to said she believes the efforts are a good idea and has been lucky enough not to get flooded, but can’t say the same about others. “The Hickson Street area is known for flooding, around Cool Street as well,” said Stefanie Lacasse.

Lacasse said she would be would welcome a dog park in the area to bring her dog Bugsy, but only if set up properly.

According to the press release, “the new Verdun sponge park will join the other parks, public squares, pavements and sponge streets currently being developed in Montreal, which now have a total retention capacity of 1.87 million litres of water.”