MONTREAL – A petition has been started against Montreal’s plan to fork out $3.45 million to install granite tree stumps along Mount Royal, as part of celebrations for the city’s 375th anniversary.
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“Not only does it seem redundant and stupid to plant concrete stumps in our city’s most treasured green spaces, but that public money could be better spent cultivating more green space in the city, or on any number of community and cultural projects,” petition creator Amanda Cockburn wrote on the page.
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“Let’s stop this wasteful spending.”
The price tag for the tree stumps, currently sitting at $3.45 million, is 27 per cent higher than the anticipated cost.
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The official opposition at city hall came out at the beginning of June to say they opposed the art installation.
“There’s little added value to justify it and we fear it’s part of a pattern involving Mayor [Denis] Coderre’s legacy projects for the 375th anniversary of the City of Montreal,” said Projet Montréal councillor Alex Norris.
At the time, Coderre defended the blocks as art and insisted it would create more seating for park-goers.
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As of 2 p.m. Monday, over 700 people have signed the petition; the goal is to reach 1,000 signatures.