Turning railway lands into parkland: How cities are reinventing public space
Climate Change, Energy & Pollution Health Parks & Public SpaceSummary
A former railway track in Montreal, now known as Gorilla Park, has been brought to life with the help of community lobbying. As described by the Globe and Mail, after the tracks were abandoned in the 1990s, trees and vegetation flourished on the site. That was until a developer cut down all the trees in 2013. After a decade of community advocacy, the city approved $10 million to acquire and renovate the site. Now, the beloved park hosts more than 1,500 trees and shrubs, and has revegetated more than 75% of the area’s natural habitat. Green spaces help mitigate climate change by lowering levels of air pollutants, reducing land surface temperature, and helping reduce flooding. Similarly, the Bentway in Toronto uses planters to soften the hardscape and filters and remediates stormwater. Rather than manicured lawn-style parks with little shade cover, this new approach to designing public space positively impacts green space, public use/gathering, and the environment.