This article written in french by Stéphane St-Amour was automatically translated using ChatGPT
Redevelopment work on Pie-X Park and the pedestrian paths leading to it will begin this fall in the Chomedey neighborhood.
This large-scale project, which will continue until 2026, will be carried out by Groupe CIBS, who won the lowest bid at $22,685,499.61, including taxes.
The Quebec government, through its Financial Assistance Program for Recreational, Sports, and Outdoor Infrastructure, will cover 60% of the costs.
This project will modernize and enhance the park’s sports, recreational, and aquatic infrastructure, including a new multifunctional chalet, a new swimming pool with a wading pool and water games, and the first refrigerated and covered skating rink, which will also include basketball courts and pickleball play areas.
Controversial Project
Unexpectedly, this initiative sparked opposition in the neighborhood earlier this year. Nearly 400 petitioners called for the project to be suspended and for a public consultation to be held.
Last June, residents living near Pie-X Park returned to the municipal council for the fifth consecutive month to demand a formal public consultation from the authorities, but to no avail. On this occasion, Christian Veilleux, Christina Gaston, and Patriciu Popescu wore themed T-shirts. (Photo courtesy)
Since this petition was submitted in February, Christian Veilleux and other signatories have voiced their concerns at each regular council meeting, calling for the removal of the preemption rights over four properties at the park entrance (which they succeeded in achieving) and the reduction of the planned widening of the four urban passages leading to the park.
Sixteen property owners whose land borders these pedestrian paths had received a notice last summer from the City, asking them to vacate the 12-foot-wide municipal land they had occupied “without authorization” for over 65 years.
For safety, accessibility, and maintenance reasons, the City chose to widen these paths from 6 to 10 feet as part of an urban redevelopment plan, which also includes 10 feet of greenery and street furniture on either side of the alley.
In a letter distributed in the neighborhood at the end of July, municipal councilor Sandra El-Helou mentioned that “adjustments” had been made. She noted, among other things, that “the widening has been revised to preserve certain trees and landscaping” and that “the street furniture will be placed in a way that reduces loitering near private yards.”
Living on Olivar-Asselin Street for over 30 years, Mr. Veilleux, whose property borders one of these urban passages, responded that “the only boundary adjustment proposed by the City is a meager 15 cm (6 inches),” which he considers negligible, as the passage will be 9.1 meters (30 feet) wide.
As a result, the future fences will be less than 2 meters from some homes’ windows and patio doors, Christian Veilleux continued.
This passage connecting Olivar-Asselin Street to Marguerite-Bourgeoys Street will expand from 6 to 10 feet in width as part of an urban redevelopment plan, which also includes 10 feet of greenery and street furniture on both sides. The markers (circled in the photo) indicate the 30-foot width of the future development that the City will replicate in the three other passages further south leading to Pie-X Park. (Photo 2M.Media – Archives)
Unanimity
Although the $23M contract was unanimously awarded during the September 10 council meeting, opposition groups criticized the lack of a “genuine public consultation” for this project.
“Residents around the park, seniors, daycare services, and organizations that host activities in our parks are also important potential users. Were they consulted? No,” said Action Laval councilor Paolo Galati, pointing out that only teenagers had been surveyed by the City in the summer of 2022.
For his part, the interim leader of Parti Laval, Claude Larochelle, argued that such significant investments in neighborhoods require early involvement from the people who live there. “I hope we can still manage to find an acceptable way of life for the citizens, especially the immediate neighbors.”
Reinvented Park
Here are the highlights of this complete redevelopment, which will give a much-needed facelift to Pie-X Park:
- Construction of a new multifunctional chalet, a new pool including a wading pool and water games;
- The first refrigerated and covered skating rink, integrating basketball courts and pickleball play areas;
- A modern, inclusive, and universally accessible playground;
- A youth zone designed in consultation with more than 150 local teenagers, featuring ping-pong tables, a mini skateboard ramp, and trendy street furniture;
- Addition of a synthetic surface soccer field requested during the 2022 consultation with teenagers who frequented the park;
- Redevelopment of the urban passages directly connected to each other and the park for increased safety and accessibility;
- Spatial reorganization of the site, with the addition of universally lit paths for better readability and access to the park;
- Addition of comfortable and universal furniture throughout the park, including benches, picnic tables, and bike racks;
- Enhancement of the park’s overall canopy.
“The work, necessary due to the obsolescence of the current facilities, aims to provide quality infrastructure and an even more friendly, safe, and accessible space for local residents,” councilor Sandra El-Helou said in a statement issued by the City following the contract award.
