Pay per view plants

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Some Old Montreal residents and business owners are irritated by Mosaicultures Internationales Montréal (MIM) 2000, an exhibit of floral sculptures at the Old Port, which blocks access to Parc des Écluses and the mouth of the Lachine Canal.

"I practice yoga and tai chi so I used the park about three times a week," says local business manager Dano Woffenden. "I was infuriated when they put up wooden walls so you can't even see the park anymore, and you have to pay to get in."

The majority of local dog owners also used the space as it was one of the only areas of the Old Port where dogs were allowed.

Patrick Meausette, resident and part-owner of Titanic restaurant on St-Pierre, says he hopes petitioning the city will result in them removing the wooden barriers--and scheduling no pay-only events for the site next year.

"I think it was one of the most nicely designed parks in the city and people should be able to enjoy the view for free," says Meausette.

But Lily Robert, communication director at the Société du Vieux-Port, says, "By October 6, the space will be available again and the MIM has planted more trees so the park should be better." She added that over 100,000 people have enjoyed the exhibit over the past three weeks." At $10 a pop. : --Lorraine Carpenter