The Montreal public health department announced that the opening of the Pierre‑Bédard sponge park in the Mercier‑Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve borough has been delayed because of bureaucratic obstacles.
The $16 million facility, the city’s only sponge park, is tied to a combined sewer system that manages storm‑water runoff. Officials warned that removing the park’s cap could allow flood water to mix with sewer water, creating contamination risks.
The delay was reported on Saturday evening, 26 September 2026.