A Sponge Park is coming to Vanier

Carillon Park is being reimagined as a Sponge Park — a greener, cooler, and more climate-resilient space for the Vanier community. We’re planning important upgrades, including a new splash pad, improvements to stormwater management, and enhancements to play and gathering areas — and we want your input.

Learn more here. 

What is a “Sponge Park”?

A Sponge Park is designed to better absorb and manage rainwater where it falls.

These “Sponge” features will improve stormwater absorption by increasing permeable surfaces, such as paving, grass, playground mulch (engineered wood fibre surfacing), sand, and planted bioswales. Permeable surfaces allow water to infiltrate into the ground slowly and naturally, helping replenish the water table and reduce stress on the City’s stormwater infrastructure.

Proposed sponge features at Carillon Park include:

• Permeable paving to help manage runoff and reduce heat retention
• A planted bioswale to capture and filter rainwater
• Native, rain-loving perennials that thrive in wet conditions

Where possible, existing mature trees will be retained to minimize soil disturbance, reduce carbon impacts, and promote long-term carbon sequestration.

Together, these improvements will help reduce localized flooding, lower surface temperatures, and create a more resilient park.

This post is also available in French.