The “sponge” parks for harvesting rainwater installed on the MIL Campus of the University of Montreal have been recognized internationally by the distinction of the 2024 Sustainable Development Trophy from the National Union of Developers, rejoiced Mayor Valérie Plante on Sunday.
“A recognition of exemplarity [du Campus MIL] in terms of ecological transition and development, in particular thanks to sponge parks”, underlined the mayor on the X network on Sunday. “Boldness and excellence in the service of the reconstruction of the city! Well done ! »
This most recent campus of the University of Montreal was established on the site of the former Outremont marshalling yard. It is deployed in particular along avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, near the Outremont metro station. The MIL Campus houses university buildings, as well as public spaces – parks, cycle paths. etc.
The development of a “sponge” district caught the attention of the National Union jury [française] developers. “This project provides for a network of public spaces combining socialization and recreation areas and new areas of biodiversity while allowing ecological management of rainwater,” underlines the press release announcing the winners of the Trophies of sustainable development 2024, end of December.
The MIL Campus collected the trophy in the international section of this competition.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM VALERIE PLANTE’S X ACCOUNT
A development of the MIL Campus.
In the MIL Campus, four “sponge” parks have been built or are being designed, the press release specifies. These are Pierre-Dansereau (Avenue Querbes), Dickie-Moore (Avenue de l’Épée), Des Gorilles (Rue Beaubien Ouest) and Irma-LeVasseur (Avenue Dollard) parks.
“ [Ces parcs “éponges”] allow rainwater to be retained on the surface in basin areas before gradually returning it to the sewer network to avoid overflows,” notes the press release. “For 2024, nearly 30 resilient parks are being designed throughout the city to allow the retention of approximately 9,000 m3 of water, the equivalent of more than 3 Olympic swimming pools. »
Last October, Montreal announced plans to build 30 “sponge” parks and 400 “sponge” sidewalks in the next two years. Seven other “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 envelope of 117 million from the Government of Quebec as part of the Plan for a Green Economy.