The redevelopment of Berge des Baigneurs – one of Laval’s only large riverside parks – has created a newly attractive and popular public space in the historic Sainte-Rose district, drawing residents and visitors to the naturally picturesque site on the banks of Rivière des Mille Îles.
With Phase 1 now complete, this exciting project is revitalizing access to this vast green space, leading residents to discover it all over again. Along Boulevard Sainte-Rose, newly installed seating areas with landscape features provide a perfect vantage of the rich heritage and culture of existing buildings. On their way to the riverbank, visitors can’t miss the stately Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church, an architectural highlight. Its remarkable façade, illuminated at night, has been enhanced by the expansion of the church’s square, which has long served as a communal gathering place. The installation of sculptures and religious artefacts along the promenade remind visitors of the site’s rich heritage, including crosses positioned to evoke the site where the old church once stood. Highly inviting planted areas have been enhanced to promote biodiversity, with features such as gardens and a walkway lined with crabapple trees. The project’s unique signature strengthens the site’s already powerful identity, while fulfilling the essential and increasingly vital need to bring nature back into the hearts of our cities.