In an effort to democratize sports, facilitate access to sports fields and beautify the neighbourhoods of Montrealers, Projet Montréal is committed to transforming a minimum of 15 vacant lots into sports fields over the next 4 years.
The designated sites belong mainly to the City of Montréal. They will be developed to allow young and old alike to play basketball, soccer and floor hockey. Three sports fields will be developed in the first year, followed by four in the next three years. This new program will make it possible to quickly offer new recreational areas to Montrealers, without having to wait for new parks to be built.
In total, Projet Montréal will invest $3.3 million over the course of its next mandate to transform under-used spaces into spaces where hundreds of children, teenagers and adults can play.
Quotes
"Sport is a powerful tool for inclusion and promotes physical and psychological health. To ensure that as many people as possible have easy access to spaces to play basketball, soccer or hockey, Projet Montréal is committed to transforming 15 vacant lots into sports fields. These transitional facilities will improve the quality of life in the neighbourhoods where they are built. They will also make it possible to quickly provide Montrealers with places to exercise and to meet. - Valérie Plante, leader of Projet Montréal
"The demand for sports facilities is great in Côte-des-Neiges- Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The project to transform vacant lots into sports facilities is a welcome response to the need for sports facilities in Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The program to transform vacant lots into sports fields will give the boroughs the flexibility to act quickly to meet the needs expressed on the ground. It will allow us to offer young people the opportunity to develop their passion for sports, but also to foster the development of supportive, inclusive, dynamic and safe communities. - Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, candidate for mayor of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
