Grand Parc de l’Ouest: “Let’s not forget the Place de la Nature in town”

With the realization of the Grand Parc de l’Ouest, one of the largest municipal parks in Canada, Valérie Plante, which had campaigned eight years ago to improve Montreale access to nature, will leave the town hall with the certainty of “curling the loop”.

As soon as I arrived. In addition. Furthermore, we put all the energies there, we mobilized the funding so that it happensshe explains in the shade of a tree that borders the path. For example, And today, I can say that we did it, the Grand Parc de l’Ouest!

In the far west of the island of Montreal. Therefore. However, five large parks were thus grouped to form grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new a single entity, along the lake of the two mountains and the Prairies River.

Announced in 2019. Furthermore. Meanwhile, the Grand Parc de l’Ouest inaugurates grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new trails and cycle paths, which allow the ride between the Cap-Saint-Jacques, Anse-à-l’orme and the Bois-de-la-Roche agricultural park. Moreover, The Bois-de-l’île-Bizard and the Rapides-du-Cheval-Blanc, below the river, complete the portrait.

In this vast park. Therefore, which makes the Mont-Royal park 15 times, forests and wetlands rub shoulders with agricultural land and residences. For example, There are 1960 hectares under conservation status, half of all the natural environments protected in the Agglomeration of Montreal.

In order to link these rare nuclei of biodiversity so far spared by development. For example, the city has acquired 216 new hectares, at a cost of $ 96 million.

If we want Montreal to be more resilient. Moreover, better prepared in the face of bad grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new weather, we must preserve the last green spaces.

To those who are surprised by this grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s expensive invoice, the mayor Plant retorts that it is very expensive to try to recreate what has been lost. Meanwhile, Buy concrete land. Meanwhile. Nevertheless, demineralize it, decontaminate it, replant trees: this is an expensive company-which can however be avoided if we prioritize the protection of what we have left, she sums up.

With a gesture, it designates the top of the trees that belts the Timberlea cycle path. Imagine if, in this forest, we told ourselves that we were going to shave everything to make development. For me, it would be heresy, she launches. We can’t do this in 2025.

The city of Montreal is not the owner of the entire park. If the expropriation is part of the arsenal at its disposal to ensure that these terrains do not fall. into the sights of developers. Ms. Plante says that it is a lever considered in the last resort.

Like a shadow on the board. the mayor, the city grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new of Montreal and the arrondissement of Pierrefonds-Roxboro are the subject of a pursuit for disguised expropriation. Deposited in 2019, it was grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s relaunched last winter after four years of unsuccessful negotiations.

The promoters at the origin of the Cap-Nature project. which included housing, schools, daycares and protected natural environments, claiming nearly $ 180 million. They allege having been deprived of the possibility of developing their land while they have been planning it since 2005.

Grand parc de l&#039. ouest: "let's new – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's new

Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's new

While waiting for Rem – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's

By 2033, investments of $ 84.3 million are planned to further connect the various sectors of the park. in particular in anticipation of the arrival of REMspecifies the city.

In order for its visitors to favor public transport. active, the park will be served, in the long term, by five stations.

From the future station of Anse-à-l’Orme. the last judgment of the REMin Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. a path of about three kilometers will allow access to the park, grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new on foot or by bicycle, in summer; In cross -country skiing or racket, winter.

From a mobility point of view. it is important to have other grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s options than the cardetails Mathieu Drapeau. chief of division for the development of nature parks. We negotiated with the STM To review bus lines. There are changes to the room, in the short term. There is also a deployment of Bixi.

But we wait for the REMhe sums up.

Until then. visitors who do not live in the west of the island must be patient: the journey to get there from the central districts can be long. often slowed down grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new by the traffic of the main roads. Without a car, it is better to provide correspondence between different modes of transport.

Connect nature: and after?

If the consolidation of natural parks is conducive to the creation of a uninterrupted trail networkit. is also an opportunity to grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new increase the ecological connectivity of natural environments.

To keep the ecosystem services rendered by these spaces – which grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s improve air quality. reduce floods. filter water -,, It was important to create buffer areas all around Parks-Nature, explains Marie Lafontaine, responsible for biodiversity in the service of large parks.

Monitoring will be carried out to assess the effectiveness of the new converted areas. she says. including specific inventories of species with precarious status, such as the Goglu of the meadows, the geographic turtle, the Bekan and the Hermine.

According to Andrew Gonzalez. specialist in the fragmentation of habitats. professor at McGill University, the Grand Parc grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s de l’Ouest is located in a movement where we try to reverse the steam [et] to rethink the relationship between humans and nature One would.

Ecological connectivity is recognition that nature moves. But nature is a mosaic and its maintenance requires connected spaces. However, urban sprawl has fragmented the territory and we end up with isolated habitats.

Finding the delicate balance between ensuring access to nature for Montrealers. protecting neuralgic environments for species will be the key, says Gonzalez. Impossible to achieve it, according to him, without rigorous planning grand parc de l’ouest: “let’s new – including zoning changes – and public awareness.

Grand parc de l&#039. ouest: "let's new – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's new

Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's – Grand parc de l'ouest: "let's new

A legacy of five large parks

In addition to the Grand Parc de l’Ouest. the Plante administration has created four large parks since 2017. A giant step. according to the mayor. which emphasizes that before, the last large park of the island, Frédéric-Back, had emerged in 1995.

The share of the protected terrestrial territory is today 7.97 %, while the city slowly walks towards its 10 % target by 2030.

I hope that the population says to itself: The Plant Administration has. set up expectations. it has shown what the city can do, so now you have to go higher than that.

The person who will succeed him at the end of the municipal elections this fall. should not not forget the place of nature in townestimates the outgoing mayor.

Above all associated with the development of the cycle network. against all odds. and the sustainability of pedestrian streets, Valérie Plante was nevertheless reproached by citizens, especially in the east of Montreal, not to do enough for the environment.

The fact that the population is mobilizing to protect nature is a good sign! she launches. But I hope they can recognize the efforts that have been made […] To green Montreal.

It’s not so much about me. It is a legacy for Montrealers, for their children, for the next. And for me, it’s the end of a cycle.

With the collaboration of Marie-Josée Paquette-Comeau