Verdun's anticipated urban beach to open Summer 2019 (RENDERINGS)

Verdun's highly anticipated urban beach will open Summer 2019 (RENDERINGS)

Remember what sunshine, heat and hot sand feels like? With Montreal’s gloomy, cold and snowy weather, it might be nice to hear some positive, peachy, beach news.

In a statement, Verdun’s Mayor Jean-François Parenteau has announced that the borough’s much anticipated urban beach will be ready for this coming summer.

According to Parenteau, Verdun has obtained the last of the needed federal and provincial authorizations to complete the project, which was initially supposed to open in the summer of 2017.

The beach will be located in Arthur-Therrien Park, just off of Gaétan-Laberge Boulevard near Hickson Street.

The latest work consists of correcting the depths of the river to the soon-to-be swimming area. Given the latest weather conditions, the contractor must adjust the pace of work accordingly. As per the statement, the work is being done “immediately,” at this time of year to avoid disturbing the fish habitat.

“We are very pleased to have received these authorizations from provincial and federal authorities, which will allow us to move forward with the work on the shoreline. Citizens will have the pleasure of bathing at Verdun Beach in 2019,” said Borough Mayor Jean-François Parenteau in a statement.

Come spring, landscaping will be completed and there will be slides integrated into the slope down to the river that will feature a sandy beach for swimming and lounging.

The shoreline will be accessible to people in wheelchairs with paths woven through a grassy, landscaped space.

Renderings to the long-awaited $5 million beach can be found below, a quick and welcomed escape to the start of winter.

CMM/Twitter

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