The “sponge” parks for rainwater harvesting that were installed on the MIL campus of the University of Montreal have been internationally recognized with the “Sustainable Development Trophy 2024” award from the National Union of Developers, said Mayor Valérie Plante on Sunday.
Posted at 5:22 p.m.
“A recognition of exemplary excellence [du Campus MIL] with regard to ecological change and development, especially thanks to sponge parks,” emphasized the mayor on Sunday in the X network. “Boldness and excellence in the service of rebuilding the city! Well done ! »
This latest University of Montreal campus was built on the site of the former Outremont rail yard. It will be used in particular along Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, near the Outremont metro station. The MIL Campus houses university buildings as well as public spaces – parks, bike paths. etc.
The development of a “sponge district” caught the attention of the National Union jury [française] Developer. “This project envisages a network of public spaces that connect socialization and recreation areas as well as new areas of biodiversity while allowing ecological management of stormwater,” says the press release at the end of December announcing the winners of the 2024 Sustainable Development Trophies are given.
MIL Campus won the trophy in the international part of this competition.
PHOTO FROM VALERIE PLANTE'S X ACCOUNT
A further development of the MIL Campus.
Four “sponge parks” have been built or are currently being designed on the MIL campus, the release said. These are the parks Pierre-Dansereau (Avenue Querbes), Dickie-Moore (Avenue de l'Épée), Des Gorilles (Rue Beaubien Ouest) and Irma-LeVasseur (Avenue Dollard).
“ [Ces parcs “éponges”] Stormwater should be retained on the surface in catchment areas before being gradually returned to the sewer system to avoid overflows,” the press release said. “For 2024, nearly 30 resilient parks will be designed across the city to enable the retention of approximately 9,000 m3 of water, equivalent to more than three Olympic-size swimming pools. »
Last October, Montreal announced plans to build 30 “sponge” parks and 400 “sponge” walkways over the next two years. Seven more “sponge” parks have already found their place in the metropolis since 2022.
These developments announced by the City of Montreal are financed thanks to an amount of 117 million from the Government of Quebec as part of the green economy plan.