THE RODRIGUE GILBERT ARENA, MONTREAL

The borough of Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles has inaugurated a special parking lot at the Rodrigue Gilbert arena. It earned the Eco-Responsible Parking Certificate from the Montreal Regional Environmental Council (CRE). This certificate is awarded for adherence to exact criteria governing green space, rainwater management and sustainable mobility which accords with the BNQ 3019-190 Standard (Reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect – Parking Lot Development).

A committee of experts established several criteria when refurbishing a parking lot, including:
• Increased and diversified canopy and general greening
• Bio-retention development
• Permeable ground covering
• Safe spaces and furnishings for pedestrians and cyclists
• Preferential parking for electric vehicles and carpoolers
• Optimization of active and collective transportation options

34% of the new layout has permeable surfacing that will absorb and filter rainwater. The layout is complemented with bio-retention gardens, grassland depressions, a retention basin and permeable pavers. 47 coniferous and deciduous trees were planted to add 20% more green space to the layout. The parking lot is expected to absorb over half a million litres of rainwater, the equivalent of 13 above-ground swimming pools, over ten years. These solutions will reduce the layout’s wastewater burden on the sewer system by 30%.

Product used: permeable avenue paver
Landscaping architecture: Groupe Rousseau Lefebvre