Vague promises made about green space
The federal environment minister has made some vague but pleasant-sounding promises about helping with nature reserves on the Îles de Boucherville and other river islands, as well as other green spaces around Montreal.
Faiz Imam 16:42 on 2019-04-25 Permalink
Very good language, and the possibility of this is linked to how low value most of that land is, due to its geographical isolation and lack of infrastructure.
But that’s exactly also why its not very well used as a nature space. It’s still not possible to bike or walk there, and there still is no bus to the island. The only option is a ferry that does not cross very often.
It’s a great place, but I hope this increased interest comes with the other things needed to make it more connected to the city.
Kate 19:39 on 2019-04-25 Permalink
Faiz Imam, in a way I sort of hope the opposite happens. It’s easy to get to the Îles de Boucherville by car (although that may not be so true when work begins on the tunnel – I don’t know for sure) but, as you say, otherwise difficult, just that small ferry from east-end Promenade Bellerive, with a limited schedule that has to define your visit unless you want to get stranded there. Also the ferry only runs during high summer. You can’t go there at other seasons unless you drive – or have a boat moored somewhere over on the south shore. I’ve seen kayakers around those islands, for example.
What would be great is if they made the park inaccessible by car, but somewhat more accessible by boat.
Faiz Imam 21:22 on 2019-04-25 Permalink
I think you might very well get that wish.
The main part of the island is only accessible by car, and I’m hoping they build a extension to that bridge (or a new bridge) to attach a bike path. There is a major bike path on the south shore side and its a pretty straightforward connection. Longueuil is already investing major money in improving that and other parts of their bike network in the city.
For example check out this gorgeous bridge and attached observation tower: https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.5452242,-73.5068345,3a,60y,236.76h,96.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQWD6kybb15zey72afry9mA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
But on the island itself, the roads only really go to the main picnic area. The current golf course and the half dozen farms, as well as all the marsh lands are only accessible by boat. I would hope that once all that is absorbed by the park and connected, they keep all that mostly isolated.
Maybe a couple small bridges to build a hiking and biking network.
If you look at how most other parks Canada places are maintained, i’m pretty excited by what it could become. They tend to build really solid faculties while maintaining a pretty light (and not autocentric) touch,
Kate 06:46 on 2019-04-26 Permalink
Have you been over there, Faiz Imam? I have, a few times, by the bicycle-boat combo a couple of times and once with a friend who has a car. There are small bridges connecting the islands, passable by foot or cycle but not by car. Also a tiny hand-pulled ferry in one spot, again capable of moving bikes and pedestrians, but not cars.
MF 09:59 on 2019-04-26 Permalink
In the summer, there is a bus to Iles-de-Boucherville: http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/fr-CA/bus-des-iles/
Kate 16:53 on 2019-04-26 Permalink
Thanks, MF
js 17:15 on 2019-04-26 Permalink
The golfers must have some way of getting to their golf course in their cars. The farmers who work the islands too.
I bike over there every few years and I find the pickings pretty slim – most of the land is agricultural. There’s also a hotel and a water treatment plant or something.
Navark also runs a ferry from the south shore that for some reason cost a dollar less than the Montreal-side one the one time I took it.
dhomas 23:54 on 2019-04-26 Permalink
The hotel building you see there, Hotel gouverneur, is no longer an operational hotel and hasn’t been for about 5 years. They were supposed to convert it into an old folks home called Lux, if memory serves. I don’t think they ever followed through with those plans, though.