Hundreds of Montrealers rallied against the proposed expansion of the tennis stadium at Jarry Park Sunday.
Residents and community groups say the project will result in loss of green space and the baseball field in the neighbourhood.
In June, Tennis Canada announced its plans to increase the IGA Stadium’s to 15,000 seats and build a retractable roof as part of its modernization efforts the organization said is needed to continue hosting professional tours.
The project reportedly estimated to cost $400 million and will add up to four practice courts and a match court, according to Tennis Canada vice-president of professional events Valérie Tétreault.
‘The park belongs to us’
The pushback to the proposal followed quickly with residents expressing concerns over the loss of mature trees and communal space in the borough.
On Sunday, protestors carried placards denouncing Tennis Canada as they marched through the streets of Park Extension neighbourhood.
Geneviève Beaudet from Mères au front – Montréal, one of the organizers of the rally, said the grassroots protest created a sense of solidarity among the residents who were upset about the lack of consultations on the stadium expansion which could potentially see thousands of people come to neighbourhood for matches round the year.
“It’s a public park. It should remain a public park,” Beaudet said. “It’s not a private land where anything can be done.”
Beaudet added that for a lot of the residents in the neighbourhood who don’t have yards Jarry Park offered a green space.
“We should be building new green spaces, not taking away green spaces to make buildings,” she said.
“The person that can change something that can stop Tennis Canada, it’s the City of Montreal and the mayor,” she added. “And unfortunately, she’s has (supported) this plan.”
The opposition to the project also went digital with a rap video titled “Whose park? Our park!” creating buzz on social media.
On a Facebook post Friday, Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension Mayor Jean François Lalonde said he opposed the expansion of the stadium but said he supported modernizing it.
“Yesterday’s public outpouring of support once again demonstrates the public’s deep attachment to Jarry Park,” Lalonde told CityNews, in an email statement. “I hear the concerns that have been raised, and they must be part of the discussions on the park’s future.”
In a statement to CityNews, a spokesperson for Tennis Canada Marc-Antoine Farly said the project was still in its early phase and that consultations were ongoing with the community and the City of Montreal.
“Public demonstrations are a legitimate right, and we are committed to listening to the concerns being expressed in order to put forward the best possible project for everyone, for the benefit of Montrealers,” Farly said.
“While several aspects still need to be developed before a project can be presented, our team has held several meetings in recent weeks with various community groups to discuss the process and our desire to involve them in the steps ahead.”
The office of Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada says it is in talks with the organization.
“Montreal must remain a leading sports destination on the international circuit,” the mayor’s office said.
“The (National Bank Open) is an event of international stature, and our infrastructure must be on par with the tournament we host. We are continuing discussions with Tennis Canada and all of our partners, and this work must be coupled with a thorough consultation with the public.”
City hall Opposition Leader Ericka Alneus attended Sunday’s protest.
“I’m proud to see our city shine on the international scene and Tennis Canada has its place in Montreal, but Montrealers who live here 365 days a year also deserve to keep their green spaces,” Alneus told CityNews Monday.
“My colleagues and I were at the march on Sunday, we took the time to speak and listen to the citizens. The Martinez Ferrada administration has a responsibility to listen to residents’ concerns and ensure they are meaningfully involved in the process.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
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