Montreal public health announced that the opening of the Pierre‑Bédard sponge park in the Mercier‑Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve borough has been postponed due to bureaucratic issues that are preventing the site’s full activation. The $16 million project remains closed while officials work through the administrative hurdles.
Officials have warned that removing the park’s cap could allow flood water to combine with sewer water, raising the risk of contamination. The Pierre‑Bédard site is the city’s only sponge park connected to a combined sewer system.