Montreal Executive Committee Passes $18M Green Corridor and Stormwater Retention Bylaw

MONTREAL, QC — The Executive Committee of the City of Montreal approved an $18-million urban climate resilience package on Saturday, funding the construction of four dedicated 'sponge-parks' and extensive roadside bioswales in flood-prone northern boroughs.

Sponge Infrastructure and Stormwater Absorption

The initiative forms part of Montreal's 2030 Climate Adaptation Plan, engineered to reduce catastrophic basement flooding and sewer overflows during intense summer convective rainstorms. The new sponge-parks in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Saint-Laurent, and Côte-des-Neiges incorporate depressed retention basins, permeable urban pavers, and native water-tolerant vegetation designed to naturally absorb up to 2.5 million litres of surface runoff per hectare during severe downpours.

The civil engineering design temporarily retains peak stormwater volumes, releasing water slowly into municipal storm mains only after torrential cloudbursts subside.

Community Impact and Urban Heat Mitigation

In addition to stormwater management, the green infrastructure projects expand neighborhood tree canopies, reducing urban heat island effects in densely populated, paved residential neighborhoods.

Borough mayors commended the funding, noting that expanding natural retention infrastructure is significantly faster and more cost-effective than replacing century-old subterranean concrete sewer trunk lines.

Construction Schedule

Civil excavation and landscaping tenders will be awarded in October 2026, with park construction beginning in spring 2027 and completing by autumn 2027.