A first phase of transformation of the dry materials depot on Filion Street into a municipal park (baseball and cross-country skiing) was announced during the regular meeting of the Saint-Jérôme municipal council on March 21.
The by-law for the development of the future Jacques-Locas synthetic ball field, for a loan of $6,000,000 distributed over a term of 20 years, could be adopted at the meeting of next April 18.
City councilors, urban planning and recreation considered various locations, but the original premise of establishing the baseball field at the old dry depot on Filion Street prevailed.
“We considered various hypotheses, but no other site was big enough. In Bellefeuille, it would have encroached on the land of the existing (elementary) school, while in the Saint-Antoine sector (route 158), the land would have exceeded into the hole. We have always favored dry depots and this remains the ideal place. Many would have liked a faster outcome, but the procedures are thus done at the municipal level. We must weigh and reweigh our decisions before having them adopted. We work with citizens’ money and we must always keep that in mind.”recalled the mayor of Saint-Jérôme, Mr. Marc Bourcier.
The first phase will include environmental work for the preparation of the site, the development of an access road, a parking lot, a lighting system and a temporary park building with connection to municipal services ( sewer and aqueduct). This will involve the construction of a U21 category baseball field.
“It’s a first step towards a new baseball field. The loan will be used for the planning and development of a dump and Jacques-Locas Park.specified the President of the Sports Commission and Councilor for District No. 6, Mr. Jean jr Désormeaux.
Various options had been put forward internally at City Hall, including the possible construction of multiple lots together, as in Blainville. Eventually there will be a single pitch.
“With this announcement, we are demonstrating that we are listening to the public, who want to see more parks and green spaces and who also want our sports infrastructure offer to be improved, with new quality facilities. Near the Sports district, the new Claude-Beaulieu sports center and the trails of the Lac-Jérôme natural park, Jacques-Locas park will become the perfect place to practice outdoor activities, including baseball, in a first time »continued Mayor Bourcier.
The City recalls that a feasibility and planning study for the enhancement of Jacques-Locas Park was included in the 2023-2025 three-year capital expenditures program.
“It will be a field that is divided into three parts, using mini-fences. Three simultaneous activities can therefore be practiced by young people. The synthetic surface will be equipped with a new process. The encapsulation has been approved by the Ministry of the Environment for the old dry deposit. Parking will avoid cars being parked in mud and granular. We solve a damn problem by creating this park, “ assured the first citizen.
By condemning the dry deposit, Mr. Bourcier thinks to eliminate a thorn in the feet of the residents of the sector, even if the condos of the rue Filion, as well as the residences of the rue Lavallée (seigneurie Dumont), remain near the place of predilection.
“By eliminating the depot, we will also eliminate truck traffic on Filion, which went there to empty their load. The sound of the parties will be better than that of the trucks. I don’t think sound will be an issue.”he finished.
