Frédéric-Back Park is a striking example of urban reinvention, transforming a former landfill into one of Montreal’s largest and most ambitious green spaces. Spanning 192 hectares in the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex, this evolving park is a massive environmental rehabilitation project, blending recreation, sustainability, and culture. Its white biogas-collecting spheres—surreal markers of the site’s past—dot the landscape, while meadows, trails, and wooded areas carve out space for runners, cyclists, and cross-country skiers. Educational programs and public art installations make it as much a cultural space as a natural one. The park’s ongoing restoration introduces thousands of trees and shrubs, reclaiming the land with biodiversity in mind. With lookout points, picnic areas, and a growing network of paths, it’s both a bold ecological statement and a much-needed urban escape—proof that even the most damaged landscapes can find new life.
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The best parks in Montreal all year round
From lively gathering spots to quiet escapes, these are the green spaces that keep Montreal moving, unwinding, and making the most of every season.
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