Montreal to invest $75M in local parks, shorelines, mayor says

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante says the city plans to invest $75 million in sprucing up public parks and shorelines in the coming three years.

The aim, said Planteat a Thursday newsconference, isto improve access to Montreal's riversand make parks more welcoming.

Roughly $18 million is earmarked for shorelines,while another $57 million will be invested in parks throughoutthe city.

When it comes to fixing up shorelines, the city has had a similar program in the past, Plantesaid, but it only covered five boroughs. Now11 boroughs will be eligible to apply for a share of the funding before the end of March.

The amounts awarded will be based, in part, on population density.

"It's important for us to consider all the boroughs, whether it is on theRivire des Prairies or the St. Lawrence side," Plante said.

"There are a lot of different options."

Those include buying waterfront propertyor building piers.

"We want to be flexible. We want to be sure to have better access to water."

The city has already committed to spending some $20 million a year onbuying more green space much of which is along theshorelines, Plante said.

Many of the city's 1,300 parks are in need of an upgrade, said the mayor, including renovating existing chalets and improving lighting and pathways.

"We're givingthe the ability or financial resources for boroughs to improve their parks for families and the whole population," Plantesaid.