Launched in December, the city approved a $12.8-million project, which includes a new 5,000-seat stadium, indoor tennis courts and a promenade for public use. Though opponents didn't want the project to encroach on any green space and many residents wanted the project scrapped, the battle was worth it, says Marc Langlois. The original plans from 2002 would have obliterated the existing swimming pool and dog run. "What they [Tennis Canada] can do right now is a lot less invasive than what was first planned. The new stadium is much smaller," Langlois points out.

While grudgingly accepting the project as a done deal, the group hasn't surrendered its watch over Jarry Park. "We are going to stay mobilized and be a bit like Les Amis de la montagne," Langlois explains.

With a change in its raison d'être, the group has shed its old name - Coalition pour la protection du Parc Jarry - and is setting up a nonprofit organization to reflect its new purpose. And it's urging Montrealers to get pumped up.

Langlois says Montrealers need to ensure Tennis Canada keeps its promises concerning the project. With the city of Montreal expected to reveal plans to redesign Jarry Park this spring, it is crucial citizens have a say in any changes. "We know a lot more about the park than the [city planners]" Langlois says.

For more information or to get involved, check out www.parcjarry.org.

Stephanie O'Hanley

 
 

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Keep It Green     I was baptized in a parish church just under 50 years ago a few blocks to the north of Jarry Park. When I later was growing up in Park Extension I would immensely enjoy my excursions to Jarry Park across the train tracks which appeared to my young eyes to be a vast undisturbed area of green space right in the heart of the city. It was the in place to have a picnic and also to play ball. Sometimes musicians took over the bandstand practicing their carefully crafted tunes. In 1984 I stood on the grass with thousands of other devout Christians listening intently to Pope John Paul II celebrate mass in Jarry Park as part of his Canadian tour. For most of the residents of Park Extension, Jarry Park was like an oasis. Living as they were in an impoverished area, they could hardly afford a chalet in the Laurentians like the rich Montrealers they knew. After a busy week what better way to relax than to spend carefree hours at the park. Although I don't live in the area any more, I still catch glimpses of Jarry Park when travelling on the 55 or the 193 MTC bus. In my humble opinion, Jarry Park needs to be protected from unscrupulous developers who would do anything to rip up the good earth. I would like future generations of Montreal to not miss out on the simple pleasures of spending time in Jarry Park. Let's help keep it green!
Stephen Talko	{1 vote}	February 22nd, 2004
Right on the line     Jarry Park isn't even a lovely looking park so anything that might be done to it might easily be considered an improvement. It's true that green space is important but this city has to compete with other ones for revenue too so for me this is a small price to pay.
Sam Truglio	{2 votes}	March 23rd, 2004
More green, less grass!     Hey, we have enough parks. The tennis industry brings in much needed attention and money to this city so I'm more than a little willing to sacrifice some green space for that.
Eric Bertrand	{1 vote}	March 23rd, 2004
Enough tennis!     I love parks. I come from a country that is so dry that the idea of so much green made my mind spin when I landed in this country. Ok, so the snow and ice are less exciting for someone with my warm blood but when we have summer this city is beautiful to watch and visit so you can imagine I'm less than bubbly over ruining an already ruined park to make way for the tennis industry. Yes, we have baseball parks and bike pathways but those don't break the overall serenity of a park with huge structures designed for the Tennis fans that hit this town each year. No, I'm not a tennis fan and no I'm not behind this project. I have no problem playing tennis so long as it doesn't destroy what little green this city already has.
Juana Cabezas	{2 votes}	March 21st, 2004
No love but a whole lot of green...     A sad but ultimately predictable state of affairs. Surprise, surprise, surprise...city officials decide to IGNORE l'Office de consultation publique de Montréal which sided WITH the residents. Wow, nice to know that municipal democracy still works, eh? Not like it was all an exercise in futility, y'know. Seriously though, as someone who couldn't give a damn about tennis as a whole other than my admiration of the general athleticism involved and that lovely tennis bimbette, Anna Kournikova, this issue is rather dead to me. It's not my sport of choice so any sort of redevelopment and expansion plans in Jarry Park are likely to leave me pondering my navel. I'm all for green spaces and parks but this isn't the purpose here. This is being done to accomodate tennis fans and the professional tennis mechanism in general, not improve the area. Outside of the summer months how will any of these changes benefit the locals or Montrealers in general. As constructs go this one has more in spirit with the Big O than anything else; it'll cost money and generally be useless to many, many people. The people have spoken but no one can here them over the din of the money in the air.
Pedro Eggers	{3 votes}	March 9th, 2004

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