Land formerly filled with gravel and weeds turned into Mile End park

For decades, the land underneath the Van Horne overpass on St-Laurent Boulevard in Mile End was filled with gravel and weeds. Then it got a makeover.

The area is now a green space with a lush lawn, covered in picnic tables. The underpass is full of brightly coloured art.

"We tried to change the place for the citizens," said Mile Endcity councillor Richard Ryan. "We have a park right beside, that's a really occupied park. And the families asked us to have more places, a free place to play."

The new park was inaugurated on Thursday night. Its design was based on consultations with citizens.

'Parc sans nom'

The park is called "parc sans nom," or "park without a name."It started as a nickname, given by residents for all the years it sat empty.

Ryan said the name probably won't last, given that the park is now an actual park, and not just a piece of abandoned land.

Mile End resident Peggy Burns said she welcomes the addition to the neighbourhood.

"They didn't make it into a playground, they made it into more of a community space. A place for people with children, or a place for people without children," she said.

"I think that's kind of important because ... Mile End is a lot of things to a lot of people."