The results are in: Kids love swimming pools, arenas and recreation centres

The children have spoken: swimming pools, arenas and recreation centres are the most important services offered by the City of Montreal. Parks, playgrounds and green spaces rank a close second.

Those are among the findings from a pilot project conducted during Sunday's municipal election.

Instead of voting for the city's next mayor, kids were asked: "In Montreal, what is most important to you?"

The pilot project, under the auspices of Quebec's Chief Electoral Officer, in collaboration with Élection Montréal, made mini ballot boxes available at 19 polling locations across the city.

The idea, first tested during a provincial byelection in May, is a way to familiarize kids with the democratic process. In the actual election, only 42.4 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot, compared to 44 per cent in 2013.

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​Here are the full results of the kids' vote:

• 32.3% – arenas, sports centres, and swimming pools.
• 32.1% – parks, playgrounds and green spaces.
• 19.9 % – buses, the metro and the train.
• 15.8% – libraries, recreation centres and concerts.

A total of 3,103 children cast a vote. Two per cent of ballots were spoiled.