In a significant move to expand and secure the future of the Nature Park, the City of Saint-Eustache has recently acquired seven lots adjacent to the park, adding approximately 1 million square feet (about 9.3 hectares) to this extensive natural space. This acquisition, aimed at the protection and enhancement of the area, was made possible through a financial contribution of over $566,000, shared equally between the Government of Quebec and the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), under the Green and Blue Belt Program of Greater Montreal.
These latest acquisitions are part of a continuous effort that began in 2018 when the city purchased a property comprising two lots (66.5 hectares) with the intention of creating a natural park. This park was envisioned as a place for the people of Saint-Eustache and the metropolitan area to enjoy and take advantage of the site’s natural attractions. Funded by the Government of Quebec and the CMM under the same program, a substantial portion of 56.8 hectares was dedicated to the protection of natural environments and to environmentally respectful recreational activities.
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Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal and President of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, commented on the acquisition, “This acquisition highlights the importance of the Green and Blue Belt program for the conservation of our natural environments. It is crucial to ensure their longevity to promote a good quality of life for the population of Greater Montreal, both now and in the future. Through this action, the City of Saint-Eustache solidifies its role in protecting our precious natural spaces and preserving the region’s biodiversity.”
“With these recent acquisitions, which add 9 new hectares to the Nature Park, we are enriching a valuable natural heritage for future generations. We plan to continue expanding the Nature Park by acquiring about thirty adjacent lots, and we are pleased and proud that the Government of Quebec and the Montreal Metropolitan Community are so strongly supporting our preservation and enhancement efforts for the largest green space in the area,” added Pierre Charron, Mayor of Saint-Eustache.
A Natural Space of Great Ecological Value
Identified by the CMM as a wooded area of metropolitan interest that should be conserved, the Nature Park indeed holds enormous ecological potential that the City of Saint-Eustache aims to leverage for educational and recreational purposes. Boasting a rich biodiversity, it is home to numerous wetlands and aquatic environments, and comprises 13 forest stands of five ecological types, including some species that are vulnerable and rare in the region. Moreover, its location, removed from the urban part of the city, makes it a significant cool island for the population, in addition to providing many other ecological goods and services. Alongside the lot acquisition process, and pending official approval from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife, and Parks, the City of Saint-Eustache hopes to start the development of a reception chalet, an access road, and a non-asphalted parking lot with about a hundred spaces this year.
About the Green and Blue Belt of Greater Montreal
The Green and Blue Belt is a recreational and tourist network that protects and enhances natural environments, landscapes, and built heritage in Greater Montreal for the benefit of its citizens. Funded by the Montreal Metropolitan Community, the Government of Quebec, and municipalities, the various projects of the Belt promote active and public transportation and contribute to maintaining biodiversity, mitigating the impacts of climate change, improving citizens’ quality of life, and enhancing the metropolitan region’s attractiveness.
