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The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau (SPJD) and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre have recently announced a major revitalization plan for the city's largest green space, consisting of revamped pathways and a new outdoor amphitheatre. Out of the $70.4-million CAD price tag, $35 million is funded by the Quebec government while the remaining cost will be passed on to the city of Montreal. Originally scheduled for completion in 2017—just in time for Montreal's 375th birthday—the project won't actually be complete until at least 2018 due to irregularities in the agreement between SPJD and the contractors.
Mostly focused on the Île Sainte-Hélène, renovations will include the reconfiguration of the Allée Calder leading from the subway station to the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and the Trois Disques sculpture. The enlarged pathway will eventually lead to a bigger and more open plaza, highlighting the presence of Calder's work and offering expansive views on the city's skyline and iconic Mont Royal in the background. All around the island, trails will be redesigned to improve the physical and visual connections between the land, the river and the city.
The central piece of the park's redevelopment plan is the construction of an outdoor amphitheatre to replace the gravel surface currently used for festivals like Osheaga. The upgraded facility will include a concrete pad to facilitate the installation and stability of stages, a permanent electrical supply facility, the resurfacing and drainage of the whole area to prevent the mud field effect during wet conditions, additional bathrooms, and a new building to provide a brick-and-mortar space for restaurants. Scheduled for completion in 2019, the capacity of the new venue will be increased from 45,000 to 65,000 people, at a cost of $30 million CAD.
The redevelopment plan aims to restore the park's status as a world-class, year-long destination. Although it has been used as a park since 1874, the island was extensively developed in the 1960s when it hosted the legendary Expo67. Originally consisting of just Sainte-Hélène, a second island known today as Notre-Dame was created prior to the Expo to make more space for the pavilions and other related infrastructure. Named Parc Des Îles de Montréal until 1999, the archipelago was renamed in honour of the city's former Mayor, Jean Drapeau. His initiatives like Expo67 or the construction of the Métro—whose fill was actually used to build Notre-Dame Island—helped transform the city into a modern 20th century metropolis.
For more information about the revitalization of Parc Jean-Drapeau, you can visit our Database file. If you want to get involved in the discussion, leave a comment at the bottom of this page or in the dedicated forum thread, linked below.
