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Lively/Walden: Help Shape Your Future

A supervised public beach will be available this summer at Centennial Park, 400 Graham Rd. in Whitefish.

The Project

City Council has agreed to the sale of Meatbird Lake Park to Vale Canada Limited for $4 million. Funds from the sale will be reinvested into the Lively/Walden community to develop new recreational opportunities and will ensure local residents have access to safe ways to play in the area.

Proceeds of the $4 million sale are being held in the Capital Financing Reserve Fund – General, and are dedicated to the improvement of leisure infrastructure in the Walden (Lively) area.

In the interim, a supervised beach at Centennial Park, located at 400 Graham Road in Whitefish, is available for residents until a new recreation opportunity is established.

Lively Recreation Advisory Panel

The Lively Recreation Advisory Panel was formed in the fall of 2021 with ten members from Walden/Lively community.

The 2018-2022 term of City Council expired on November 14, 2022.

Although the membership for panels ends with the new term of Council, the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel membership will continue as this is a project-based initiative. Consistent membership will ensure knowledge transfer and prevent a break in work completed to date.

As directed by Council, there will be a change to the terms of reference to replace the two youth panel members with adult candidates due to the lack of participation by youth members. These positions have since been filled by new members.

Staff will be consulting with local youth leadership and volunteer groups to encourage other approaches that engage this demographic.

Two Rounds of Community Engagement

Two community engagements have concluded. The initial engagement took place in September 2021. The second engagement took place in June of 2022. Surveys and idea boards were available on Over to You. There were several online tools and information sources available, including background reports, frequently asked questions, posters. Paper copies were also available at Citizen Service Centre//Library locations, and residents could submit their feedback via 311.

In June of 2022, Oracle Poll contacted residents throughout the city to collect their feedback and complete a telephone survey about the project’s next steps. There were several events in the Lively/Walden community for residents to attend and ask questions, give their input and complete the second survey.

Members of the panel are working with City staff to present the next set of recommendations to City Council, supported by results of polling/engagement and the work of the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel.

Read the full report and process update

The Project

City Council has agreed to the sale of Meatbird Lake Park to Vale Canada Limited for $4 million. Funds from the sale will be reinvested into the Lively/Walden community to develop new recreational opportunities and will ensure local residents have access to safe ways to play in the area.

Proceeds of the $4 million sale are being held in the Capital Financing Reserve Fund – General, and are dedicated to the improvement of leisure infrastructure in the Walden (Lively) area.

In the interim, a supervised beach at Centennial Park, located at 400 Graham Road in Whitefish, is available for residents until a new recreation opportunity is established.

Lively Recreation Advisory Panel

The Lively Recreation Advisory Panel was formed in the fall of 2021 with ten members from Walden/Lively community.

The 2018-2022 term of City Council expired on November 14, 2022.

Although the membership for panels ends with the new term of Council, the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel membership will continue as this is a project-based initiative. Consistent membership will ensure knowledge transfer and prevent a break in work completed to date.

As directed by Council, there will be a change to the terms of reference to replace the two youth panel members with adult candidates due to the lack of participation by youth members. These positions have since been filled by new members.

Staff will be consulting with local youth leadership and volunteer groups to encourage other approaches that engage this demographic.

Two Rounds of Community Engagement

Two community engagements have concluded. The initial engagement took place in September 2021. The second engagement took place in June of 2022. Surveys and idea boards were available on Over to You. There were several online tools and information sources available, including background reports, frequently asked questions, posters. Paper copies were also available at Citizen Service Centre//Library locations, and residents could submit their feedback via 311.

In June of 2022, Oracle Poll contacted residents throughout the city to collect their feedback and complete a telephone survey about the project’s next steps. There were several events in the Lively/Walden community for residents to attend and ask questions, give their input and complete the second survey.

Members of the panel are working with City staff to present the next set of recommendations to City Council, supported by results of polling/engagement and the work of the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel.

Read the full report and process update

  • October 3, 2024

    Request for Proposals Update

    The Request for Proposals (RFP) is currently open to the public with updated timelines as follows:

    • September 20: RFP issued
    • October 18: RFP closes
    • October 18 to 30: Review period
    • November/December: RFP awarded and work begins

  • July 17, 2024

    Project Update

    Financing: The $4 million proceeds from the sale of Meatbird Lake Park to Vale remain in the Capital Financing Reserve Fund – General. These funds are earmarked for the improvement of leisure infrastructure in Lively.

    Request for Proposals: While there have been some delays with the Request for Proposals (RFP), efforts are underway to expedite its release. Anticipated timelines are as follows:

    • July 31: RFP issued
    • September 13: RFP closes
    • September 16 to September 30: Review period
    • October: RFP awarded and work begins


    Lively Ski Hill: A report outlining capital projects slated for the Lively Ski Hill, as well as usage and operating cost information will be presented to City Council at their meeting being held August 13 at 1 p.m. The report is currently available for review at Information on Lively Ski Hill Capital Projects (escribemeetings.com). The Council meeting will be streamed live at Meetings, Agendas and Minutes (greatersudbury.ca).

    Aquatic Service and Facility Review: The Aquatic Service and Facility Review is now complete. A detailed report is expected to be presented to City Council on October 8. Thank you to everyone who participated in the information sessions. For those who were unable to attend, the presentation panels from the sessions can be accessed online at Aquatic Service and Facility Review | Over To You Greater Sudbury.

  • September 20, 2023

    • The Panel welcomes new member Mary Crowder.
    • Staff provides an update regarding the City’s Aquatic Review.
    • The group discusses how procuring third party services will assist during the next steps of the project.
    • The Panel resolves to hold an in-person event to interact with residents and be able to respond to questions about the project.

  • June 21, 2023

    • Staff confirms proceeds of the $4 million sale are being held in the Capital Financing Reserve Fund – General and are dedicated to the project.
    • The Panel Terms of Reference are reviewed for the benefit of the new panel members.
    • The group discusses how best to share project information with the public, including distributing flyers to area businesses and how to connect with youth.
    • The scope of work for hiring a consultant is reviewed and panel members request clarification on a number of items.
    • The resignation of a panel member is announced, steps will be taken to fill the spot on the panel.
    • The panel agrees to move forward by hiring a consultant and will meet again to ask any final questions about the scope of work.

  • March 22, 2023

    • The Lively Recreation Advisory Panel hosts their first meeting in 2023, after the turn of City Council.
    • Two new panel members are welcomed.
    • Previous project milestones are reviewed, and upcoming work is discussed.
    • Staff will enlist a landscape architect to complete site evaluations of the community’s top choices.
    • Youth engagement is discussed as upcoming work for the panel as well.
    • The panel has a round table question period.

  • October 19, 2022

    • The panel reconvenes to reflect on the report presented to them in the past meeting.
    • Steps for City Council transition pending the upcoming election are discussed.
    • Staff will recommend that existing Panel members be re-appointed for the next term to retain project knowledge.
    • City staff will take the engagement results, Panel input and discussions and present a report to Council to determine next steps for the project.

  • August 31, 2022

    • The Panel attends a presentation from Oracle Poll.
    • The presentation detailed results and analysis from the project’s second public engagement.
    • The Panel discusses what they expected to hear in the results, what surprised them about the results, and provided feedback on the report.
    • The report was sent to Panel members for their individual review.

  • June 1, 2022

    • The Panel attends a presentation prepared by Monteith Brown Planning Consultants.
    • The presentation provides panel members with examples comparable recreation projects throughout Ontario and Canada
    • The presentation provided the Panel with a cost analysis, photos, concept designs for several projects related to the key themes expressed by the community during the first round of engagement. This presentation was intended to support members by applying context to inform the recommendations they will make to City staff and Council.

  • May 4, 2022

    • The Panel participates in a tour of each location that will be considered in the next engagement survey
    • The Panel presents recommendations for the next engagement survey based on the information from this tour
    • Locations were chosen based on the results and feedback of the first community engagement and included Centennial Park, Simon Lake Park, Lively Ski Hill, Sixth Avenue Playground, The Seniors Centre, Anderson Farm and the Tom Davies Arena and surrounding parking lots.

  • April 27, 2022

    • The Panel provides feedback and guidance for City staff for community engagement of the second survey
    • Key themes and questions are discussed by the Panel relating to the second survey
    • City staff advise the Panel about ongoing recreational projects in the Lively/Walden area to inform their decision making. Specifically, playground and outdoor court revitalizations.
Page last updated: 21 Oct 2024, 01:42 PM