{"id":3337,"date":"2009-07-10T12:29:02","date_gmt":"2009-07-10T16:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingmontreal.ca\/?p=3337"},"modified":"2013-01-21T11:29:58","modified_gmt":"2013-01-21T16:29:58","slug":"recipe-for-dorchester-square-renovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2009\/07\/10\/recipe-for-dorchester-square-renovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Recipe for Dorchester Square Renovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dorchester<\/a><\/p>\n

Lots in the news lately about renovations to Dorchester Square<\/a>, and the archaeological dig<\/a> that will open up graves that date between 1799-1855, when the site was a cemetery. (Is it just me, or does unearthing bodies after a mere 155 years seem more like grave-robbing than archeology? After being examined by the archaeologists, the bones will be reburied in Notre Dame des Neiges cemetery.)<\/p>\n

Although Dorchester Square is completely fenced was off for renovations, I was pleased to see that the construction site was being put to good use: panels woven into the fence enumerate the natural, landscaped, and cultural ingredients that come together to create the public square.<\/p>\n

I ended up walking the whole way around the square and learned more from that fence than I ever absorbed from a casual passing through the site. I admit that I’ve never taken the time to identify the square’s 4 monuments, let alone the 7 tree species that are found there. Its also neat to get a glimpse of the landscape architect’s shopping list: benches, paving stones, rolls of grass, tonnes of earth.<\/p>\n

It’s a small gesture, but it acknowledges that people care about public spaces and, while the square will be inaccessible for a season or two, the panels invite us to be a part of the process.<\/p>\n

Recipe for Dorchester Square:<\/p>\n