Montreal residents rally against $400 million tennis stadium expansion in Jarry Park

Demonstrators gathered in Montreal on Sunday to urge Tennis Canada to abandon a $400 million redevelopment of the IGA stadium within Jarry Park. The scheme would boost the centre court’s seating from 11,815 to 15,000 and add a retractable roof, expanding Tennis Canada’s footprint in the 36-acre park from 22% to 27%. Opponents warn the project would displace swimming pools, baseball and soccer fields, and other facilities, stripping residents of vital green space in the densely populated Parc-Extension neighbourhood.

Didier Delfolie-Noulin of the Common Front for the Protection of Jarry Park called the plan “environmental racism,” citing the area’s heat-wave vulnerability. National Bank Open Director Valérie Tétreault defended the upgrade as necessary because the current stadium is outdated and no longer meets professional standards. Tennis Canada is negotiating with federal, provincial and municipal governments for funding, with 90% expected from public sources, and intends to hold community consultations, but has declined further comment.