Parc Chauveau to get $11 million in improvements
Peter Black
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
peterblack@qctonline.com
Quebec City’s largest park is getting a large makeover. Work is set to begin this summer on an $11-million slate of improvements to Parc Chauveau, located in the des Riviéres district in the northwest of the city.
Details of the project were unveiled in a July 19 joint news release from city and Quebec government officials.
Parc Chauveau, through which the St. Charles River runs, encompasses 130 hectares; for comparison, the Base de Plein Air de Sainte-Foy is 124 hectares and the Plains of Abraham 90 hectares.
The work to be done includes the creation of a four-season multi-purpose trail with a footbridge across the river, the creation of a main reception area and the reconfiguration of an existing bike path.
In the release, Coun. Marie-Josée Asselin, vice-president of the executive committee responsible for natural environments, said the park is “a jewel in the heart of the city, a cherished place for Quebec City residents who gather there in their thousands, in all seasons. These new developments will make the experience of immersing users in nature even more interesting, while promoting active transportation.”
The project is the result of a consultation process that produced a master plan for the park in 2021.
Some $2 million was spent last year on a series of improvements in the vicinity of the neighbouring Michel-Labadie Community Centre on Ave. Chauveau. These included “the first roller track in Quebec City, a skateboard area, a universally accessible biodiversity trail linking these recreational facilities and the St. Charles River.”
The centerpiece of the project is the new trail. The new two-kilometre universally accessible multifunctional path in the heart of the park “will take hikers, on foot, on wheels or on skis, from one end of the park to the other thanks to a new footbridge overlooking the river. This structural addition will make it possible to develop a network of recreational trails on both banks, in addition to connecting the riverside neighbourhoods by an active mode of transportation, in summer and winter.”
The accessibility aspect of the trail pleases Véronique Dallaire, the city councillor whose Les Saules – Les Méandres district includes much of the park. She is also the Opposition Quebec d’abord critic for accessibility.
In a statement to the QCT, Dallaire said, “The development of Parc Chauveau will help make our city even more accessible. The creation of a multi-purpose trail and a new main reception area represent a significant investment in the quality of life.”
The new reception area, to be located at the corner of Ave. Chauveau and Boul. Saint-Jacques, will improve access to the park and include a service pavilion and playground area. It will be done in two phases, starting with redoing the main entrance this summer, including reconfiguring the bike path at street level, building a section of sidewalk on Ave. Chauveau and planting 90 trees and numerous plants.
Jonatan Julien, the Quebec government minister for infrastructure and for the capital region, said in the news release: “The Government of Quebec is proud to contribute financially to the addition of several developments and facilities on the Parc Chauveau site, which is a delight for many hikers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.”