Unspecified/General

La Fontaine Park is one of the largest and most popular parks in central Montreal, a leafy expanse in the Plateau Mont-Royal district laid out in the formal nineteenth-century manner around two linked ornamental ponds, and a favourite gathering place for the dense, lively neighbourhoods that surround it. Covering a substantial area, the park is organised in two contrasting halves, one designed in a formal French style with straight paths and symmetrical plantings and the other in a more naturalistic English landscape style, the two joined by the watercourse that winds through the grounds. The ponds are a focus of activity through the year, with rowing and pedal boats in summer and skating on the frozen surface in winter, while the surrounding lawns, mature trees and shaded paths draw walkers, cyclists, picnickers and families, and the park's facilities include playgrounds, sports areas, a popular outdoor theatre that stages free performances in the warmer months, and monuments commemorating figures from the province's history. Named after a noted nineteenth-century political reformer, the park has long been associated with the cultural and political life of French-speaking Montreal, and it remains a stage for festivals, concerts and community events. In summer its lawns fill with sunbathers and groups of friends, and its proximity to the cafes and apartments of the Plateau makes it a natural extension of neighbourhood life. With its ponds, gardens, theatre and relaxed atmosphere, La Fontaine Park is a cherished green heart of the central city. The park has long been bound up with the cultural and political identity of French-speaking Montreal, taking its name from a leading nineteenth-century reformer, and over the years it has served as a setting for rallies and celebrations as well as for everyday recreation. Its two contrasting halves, the formal French garden with its straight allees and the looser, naturalistic English landscape, give the grounds variety, while the chain of ponds that links them is the focus of much activity, alive with rowing and pedal boats in summer and frozen for skaters in winter. The mature trees, broad lawns, playgrounds and sports facilities all serve the surrounding Plateau, one of the most densely populated and characterful districts of the city. A much-loved feature is the open-air theatre that stages free performances through the warm season, drawing audiences to its grassy slopes on summer evenings. With its ponds, gardens, theatre and central location, La Fontaine Park is one of the great green gathering places of Montreal.

Type: Outdoors

Address: Montreal, Canada