The Montreal public health department reports that administrative hold‑ups are preventing the complete launch of the Pierre‑Bédard sponge park in the Mercier‑Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve borough. The delay means the park’s cap cannot be removed as planned.
The $16 million facility, the city’s only sponge park designed to absorb stormwater, is linked to a combined sewer system. Officials say the postponement creates a risk that floodwater could mix with sewer water.