The addition of 825 plants to Nathan Shuster Park this summer is the latest phase of a multi-year effort to restore one of Côte Saint-Luc’s important natural areas.
This year’s planting follows years of work to control buckthorn, an invasive plant that can crowd out native vegetation and reduce the variety of plants growing on the forest floor. Because the park’s natural ecosystem is recognized as a wetland, 13,992 buckthorn stems were removed manually in 2020. That made way for the planting of 88 trees, 152 shrubs and 60 ferns to restore the cleared areas. Additional buckthorn removal and planting continued in 2021 and 2022 in partnership with the Comité écologique du Grand Montréal.
This year’s 825 new plants are continuing work started in 2020 to increase the variety of plant life and support the park’s long-term ecological health.
The play areas of Nathan Shuster Park were extensively redeveloped in 2014, introducing many of the signature playground features that remain popular today, including the zip line, tube slide and other adventure-style play equipment. Its wooded and wetland area provides valuable natural habitat within the city.
Nathan Shuster Park is located at 6552 Collins Road, with the main entrance near the corner of Collins Road and Beethoven Avenue.
