Splash pad, skatepark and mural; Pierrefonds-Roxboro parks redesigned

The Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough unveiled its new splash pad and mural and broke ground on the new skatepark. (Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough)

Next summer, residents in Pierrefonds-Roxboro on Montreal’s West Island will have a new splash pad, skatepark and tennis practice wall to use.

The three projects are part of the borough’s park redesign.

PPK pool splash pad

The borough unveiled a new splash pad and picnic area at the site of the former beloved “PPK pool” in Rive-Boisée Park in Pierrefonds.

The Pierrefonds Park Pool (PPK) opened in 1964 and was forced to close in 2023 due to rising costs for upgrades and the fact that it sits on a flood plain.

The $1 million project was funded through the City of Montreal’s Participatory Budget.

Borough’s first skatepark

In Pierrefond’s neighbour, Roxboro skaters, rollerskaters, BMXers and scooter riders will soon have a place to grind, ollie and kick flip as ground broke on a new skatepark in À-Ma-Baie Park.

The first-ever $1.7 million skatepark in the borough is scheduled to open in the spring near the local youth centre.

The park is designed by the skateboarding brand Spin Works.

“This skatepark will be much more than a sports facility. It will be a beautiful space for freedom, creativity, and connection for young and old alike,” said city councillor Benoît Langevin, who represents the Bois-de-Liesse district of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

Borough Mayor Jim Beis says a lot of money has come through in recent years to improve parks and green spaces, making them more accessible and allowing free activities for everyone.

“This is a project here that was spearheaded actually, by Ben White, who was a counselor with us, who was a past skater, started skating as a young boy,” he explained.

He says the facility was underutilized and adding a skate park and pump tracks made sense for the neighbourhood.

Beis hopes the next phases of the project will create “an advanced play structure system for the young children of the neighborhood.”

Diallo mural

The borough also unveiled a new mural of Montreal tennis pro Gabriel Diallo in Brook Park.

The not-for-profit MURAL produced the work, which will be near an upcoming practice “ball back” wall.

“Tennis and murals are integral to Montreal’s summer identity,” said Tennis Montreal executive director Hugues Léger. “This project brings together sport, culture, and local inspiration to create a vibrant and inclusive space.”

With files from CTV News Montreal’s Christine Long