The Des Grèves Regional Park (French: Parc régional des Grèves) is set up for recreational and tourist activities and includes a protected area. The territory of the park is entirely in the city of Contrecoeur, in the Ma
Beyond the park's tidy trails, the river's pulse varies dramatically. In spring, the thawed floodplain reveals shallow channels where novice paddlers can glide beneath budding alders, while migrating cranes pause on the mudflats before continuing north. Summer invites late‑afternoon picnics on the grassy banks, when the water's glow attracts dragonflies and the distant hum of fishing boats becomes a backdrop to conversations. Autumn brings a crispness that sharpens the scent of fallen maple leaves; the shoreline's tucked coves turn into perfect spots for quiet sketching or photography, especially when the low sun catches the river's ripple like glass. Winter, though quieter, offers cross‑country ski loops that trace the old rail‑bed, and on particularly cold days the river freezes enough to allow cautious ice‑fishing or a brisk walk along the icy edge.
The park’s management by the Solidarity Cooperative reflects a broader Quebec tradition of communal land guardianship. Visitors often encounter volunteers from nearby Contrecoeur who maintain the meadow paths and host modest workshops on native plant identification, reinforcing a sense of place that transcends mere recreation. Local artisans occasionally set up temporary kiosks near the main entry, selling handcrafted birch bark items or maplesyrup‑infused snacks, offering a tangible taste of regional culture. Engaging with these community members not only enriches the experience but also supports the cooperative’s conservation projects, such as shoreline wetland restoration that benefits both wildlife and the water quality of the St‑Lawrence.
At less than a kilometre square, Des Grèves may seem modest, yet its role mirrors that of larger protected areas in balancing human access with habitat preservation. Compared with expansive parks further inland, its proximity to the river demands a nuanced approach: flood‑plain management, shoreline erosion control, and the integration of water‑based recreation into its planning. This focus on a narrow, yet ecologically sensitive corridor gives it an outsized influence on local biodiversity, particularly for fish spawning grounds and migratory bird stop‑overs. For travellers accustomed to vast wilderness, a visit here offers a concise illustration of how tightly managed spaces can sustain both community leisure and critical ecosystem functions.
Park in Quebec, Canada This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Des Grèves Regional Park" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Parc régional des GrèvesInteractive map of Parc régional des GrèvesNearest cityContrecoeur, Marguerite-D'Youville Regional County Municipality, Quebec, CanadaCoordinates46°49′21″N 72°09′12″W / 46.82250°N 72.15333°W / 46.82250; -72.15333Area0.83 kilometres (0.52 mi)Established2009 The Parc régional des Grèves (in English: Des Grèves Regional Park) is a regional park in Quebec, located on the southeast shore of the St. Lawrence River. Inaugurated in 2011, it is located in the municipalities of Contrecoeur, in the Marguerite-D'Youville Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Montérégie, in Quebec, in Canada. The vocation of this park is to ensure the conservation of the landscapes at the same time as to organize recreational activities. This park is administered by the Solidarity Cooperative of the Grèves regional park.
[edit] Following the territorial expansion of 2020, all the lots protected by different types of conservation agreements occupy an area of 0.83 kilometres (0.52 mi), including about sixty hectares of protected area. This park is bounded to the northeast by about 2 km from the southeast shore of the St. Lawrence River, by the golf course (east side), the railway. This park is separated into three zones: the one near the St. Lawrence River; the one between route 132 and the railway; the one along the east side of the railway line.
[edit] The park has two chalets, namely: the Contrecoeur reception, located on the site of Des Grèves Vacation Camp, at 10350 route Marie-Victorin, Contrecoeur J0L 1C0; Sorel-Tracy reception, located at 3100, chemin du Golf, Sorel-Tracy, QC, J3R 0E9. Each chalet has a heritage interpretation site, visitor parking, a first aid station for first aid, basic services for recreational and tourist activities. The distance between the two chalets is 12 km. Eleven multifunctional trails (walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing) have been set up in this park, over more than 14 km. In winter, this park offers 9 km of cross-country ski trails, 5 km of skate ski trails and 9 km of snowshoeing and winter walking trails. These trails are accessible free of charge over the four seasons. Access is only on foot or, in winter, on snowshoes or cross-country skiing. All trails are accessible to people with reduced mobility. However, slatted paths do not have safety rails.
[edit] The park's trails are popular all year round. Visitors to the park can observe the river and the wilderness, take photographs, have a picnic, practice PMR, practice snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Several groups organize activities in the park: classes in nature, gathering of seniors, scientific groups (ornithologists, arborists, collectors ...), families, etc. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Free entry.
[edit] In 2006, four partners (Rio Tinto Fer et Titane, the Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, the Colonie des Grèves and the non-profit organization Kinéglobe) joined forces with the towns of Contrecœur and Sorel-Tracy to form the “Cooperative of solidarity of the regional park of Grèves”, which aims to develop this area into a regional park to improve the offer of recreational and tourist activities. In 2009, the town of Contrecoeur and Nature-Action Québec joined forces to acquire part of the Bois de Contrecoeur, or 65 hectares, which belonged to the Les Grèves summer camp. This acquisition was made financially possible thanks to the participation of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), the Hydro-Quebec Foundation for the Environment (FHQE), the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MDDEP) as well as than the town of Contrecoeur. These partners recognized the exceptional forest ecosystem of the Bois de Contrecoeur. In 2010, a walk was carried out on the coast of the St. Lawrence River in order to enhance the site while protecting nature. In 2010, the four partners launched the 2.5 million project aimed mainly at developing the hill (site P-84) of mine tailings about 500 meters wide, two kilometers long and 35 meters high. This site, which is located between Autoroute 30 and Route 132, occupies 290 hectares. The objective was then to enhance this site by creating a tourist recreation zone. In 2016, the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) jointly awarded the “Your Favorite” prize to the towns of Contrecoeur and Sorel-Tracy to reward their initiatives aimed at developing the Grèves regional park. In 2019, a grant of $53,000 is granted by the Regional Radiation Support Fund (FARR) to build various facilities in the park while $99,000 is granted for the upgrading of the infrastructure of the summer camp for Strikes. This sum was used in particular for the development of an outdoor climbing wall, the addition of two new interpretation stations, the installation of new outdoor furniture for the rest areas, and the redevelopment of the parking lot in the pavilion. reception of Sorel-Tracy, in order to promote recreational and tourist activities, in particular by improving infrastructures on the interpretation of nature. In November 2019, a perpetual conservation easement was granted on eight lots acquired since 2009. This initiative is part of the sustainable development of the city of Contrecoeur in order to preserve the natural state of the Parc des Grèves. In 2020, thanks to an investment of $190,000 made jointly by the city of Contrecoeur and Nature-Action Quebec, the conservation area of the regional park will expand by 15 hectares on the territory of Contrecoeur. This expansion for environmental purposes concerns two lots with joint ownership agreement. This 2020 acquisition is part of the “Green and blue network of Greater Montreal” which aims to protect and enhance natural environments, landscapes and built heritage. It is an integrated and global perspective, which is based on local initiatives at the scale of Greater Montreal.
[edit] ^ Article "Conservation in perpetuity at Contrecoeur", Journal La Seigneurie, April 4, 2009, Nature-Action Québec, p. 6. ^ Article "Nature-Action Québec preserves nature with you!", Published by Nature-Action Québec, 2010. ^ Article "Parc régional des Grèves - Ambitious projects on the riverfront, La Presse - Montreal, February 9, 2010, business section, p. 9. ^ Article: "Support fund for the influence of the regions Financial support from Quebec to the Colony holidays and at the Parc régional des Grèves", by Daniel Bastin, Journal LaRelevation, August 16, 2019, page 7.