Peace Park (Montreal) facts for kids

Peace Park, also known as Place de la Paix, is a special open space in Montreal. Its name, "Place of Peace," tells you what it's all about! Even in French newspapers, people often call it "Parc de la Paix." This park is located on Saint Laurent Boulevard, a busy street. Because of its location, it has different rules than regular parks. For example, Peace Park is always open to everyone, day and night!

History of Peace Park

The idea for Peace Park came about when Jean Doré was the mayor of Montreal. In 1986, he helped Montreal become a "Nuclear Free Zone." This meant the city was committed to peace and against nuclear weapons.

Because of this commitment, Mayor Doré announced in 1989 that a special "place of peace" would be built. It was meant to help people remember the terrible events of nuclear warfare. The park was built on Saint Laurent Boulevard, right in front of the famous Monument-National building and the Montreal Pool Room.

Robert Desjardins designed the park, and it officially opened on November 20, 1994. The park is mostly made of strong granite stone. There are also grassy areas around the granite tiles in the middle. Trees surround the park, providing shade. When it first opened, there were green metal benches under the trees, but these were removed in 2005.

Skateboarding at the Park

Peace Park is very popular with skateboarders! It has appeared in many skateboard videos, magazines, and books. This is because of its unique design. The park has long, high, and wide granite ledges, plus stairs. This layout makes it great for skateboarding, allowing for a smooth ride around the park. Since it's right in the middle of Montreal, it's also a common meeting spot for many skateboarders.

For a long time, skateboarding was not allowed in the park. People who skateboarded there could get expensive tickets from the city. But things changed! In 2014, the city allowed skateboarding temporarily. Then, in 2015, skateboarding became permanently legal in Peace Park.

Even before it was legal, the park's reputation among skateboarders kept growing. In 2004, a group called the Société des arts technologiques, located across the street, tried to get skateboarding legalized. They wanted to connect it with the Quartier des spectacles, a lively arts district. However, the city first said no to their idea.

Adding to the park's skateboarding scene, a store called Temple Skate Supply moved nearby in 2007. It's now just across the street from Peace Park at 1201 St-Dominique.

Documentary Film

In 2001, a local skateboarder named David 'Boots' Bouthillier started filming activities at Peace Park. Over time, he gathered a lot of footage. He was inspired by the park's history, the people who regularly visited, and its lively atmosphere. This led him to create a full-length documentary film about the park.

The documentary is called Peace Park / Place de la Paix. David received grants to help make the film from organizations like the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts. He also got support from La Société des arts Technologiques. The film will be released as an MQC production.

Events Held at Peace Park

Peace Park has been a place for many fun events over the years:

• Represent 2004 - Featured MCs, DJs, Breakdance, and Graffiti art.
• Represent 2005 - Included MCs, DJs, Breakdance, Graffiti art, and Skateboarding.
• Peace Pressure 2006 - A "Best Trick" Skateboard Contest.
• Under Pressure 2008 - An International Graffiti Convention.
• Under Pressure 2009 - Another International Graffiti Convention.
• Festival de la Rue 2009

How to Get to Peace Park

You can easily reach Peace Park by metro:

• Saint-Laurent (Montreal Metro)
• Place-d'Armes (Montreal Metro)

Images for kids

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  Peace Park in Montréal