The City of Montreal is pleased to announce the major enhancement of Frédéric-Back Park, with the addition of a further 24 hectares to this metropolitan-scale park, further advancing the site's ecological rehabilitation efforts. The Boisé Ouest development project, entirely relocated on the former landfill site, the planting of over 2,200 trees and shrubs, and the addition of accessible paths will help transform this mineralized area into a green and welcoming space for the population.
To date, more than 55 hectares of Frédéric-Back Park, which will eventually cover 153 hectares, have been landscaped and are accessible to the public. The result of a transformation that began in 1995, the park is now one of the most ambitious environmental rehabilitation projects ever undertaken in an urban setting in North America.
The work, which will begin in autumn 2024 and continue until summer 2027, will include, among other things, the environmental rehabilitation of soils, the development of new paths, the creation of squares and plots for relaxation and observation of the city's points of interest, and the installation of environmental protection and monitoring equipment. These works will offer a number of environmental and social benefits, such as :
Reducing heat islands by creating more than 20 hectares of new natural environments in a heavily mineralized area;
Improving the urban canopy by planting more than 2,200 trees and shrubs;
Improved services for the public, with the addition of 3 km of accessible trails in a hilly, wooded landscape, and an enhanced network of cross-country ski trails.
A contract was awarded to Bau-Québec ltée for the development of the Boisé Ouest sector, located in Frédéric-Back park, within the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex. This project, worth a total of $15.8 million, is part of the ongoing development of this emblematic site, formerly known as Carrière Miron, a former sanitary landfill site.
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“The development of this woodland marks an important turning point in the renaissance of this historic site. By transforming a former landfill site into a dynamic green space, the park and its new woodland illustrate Montreal's commitment to offering quality places accessible to all. The addition of 24 hectares of nature and more than 2,200 trees and shrubs in a highly mineralized area will help combat major heat islands, while increasing biodiversity where it counts most. We are proud to continue this ecological rehabilitation, which will offer Montrealers new paths and natural spaces in the heart of the city,” said Alex Norris, member of the executive committee and associate councillor for major parks and Mount Royal.
“The transformation of Frédéric-Back Park is the culmination of a long citizen's struggle led by the people of Michel. The addition of this woodland in a heavily mineralized neighbourhood is a significant new step. The addition of 24 hectares of nature is equivalent to 2 times the size of Laurier Park, or 34 soccer fields. It's huge! More and more sections of the park are now open to the public, adding to the quality of life in the neighbourhood,” points out Sylvain Ouellet, deputy mayor and city councillor for the François-Perrault district of the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough.
“Frédéric-Back Park is a huge playground for area residents in all seasons. This park offers a unique experience in the north of the city, one that will be enhanced by the development of the new woodland,” said Émilie Thuillier, Mayor of the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
