City Council Approves Anderson Farm Museum site for proposed recreation improvements

City Council received the consultant report and approved a motion to move forward with the project at the Anderson Farm Museum site. The report includes plans for a reimagined Anderson Farm Park that incorporates a signature water feature, multipurpose trails and entry ways with an option to flood a skating loop in winter months, construction of new public sauna, and a destination play structure that supports a connection to the farming theme of Anderson Farm. The council report included a class D estimate; consultant team is now moving forward with detailed design work. The next steps for this project include developing a business case as part of the 2027 budget process to revise capital budget and identify remaining funding required to advance the project.

The City would like to recognize the members of the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel for their dedication to supporting this project moving forward.

Site Evaluations Unveiled at Open House

The project team thanks everyone who attended the public open house and provided online feedback regarding initial designs for the the new Lively recreation facility. The consultant team, led by 3rdLine.Studio, has released conceptual designs for the Anderson Farm Museum property, the preferred option identified by the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel as the site of the new Lively park and recreational site. Feedback was received about the proposed plans and will be integrated into the report that will be presented to City Council in Spring 2026.

Advisory Panel Completes Evaluations, Public Open House Announced

On October 15, the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel met to complete its evaluation of three preferred sites for the new recreational facility.

During the meeting, the Advisory Panel members were presented with a detailed rating scheme to score 15 different categories for each of the three locations. The project designers led by 3rdLine.Studio explained the conceptual drawings and how each site connects with the proposed components; the ten panel members then assessed based on the criteria. An average score was then taken for all three sites to identify the preferred option.

The project team is now preparing for the next phase of community engagement. A stakeholder session will be held on Wednesday, November 26, to be followed by a public open house from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Michael Vagnini Room at T.M. Davies Arena. Physical posters advising residents of the open house details will be posted throughout Walden.

At the open house, the project team and consultants will share the conceptual designs for all three sites and communicate the preferred option identified by the Advisory Panel.

Following the in-person session, residents will be invited to share their feedback on the preferred option, as well as the other two conceptual designs. Conceptual drawings will be available on this page, and the online comment form will be open from November 26 until December 19, 2025.

Feedback from this engagement, combined with the panel's work, will be used to provide a project update for City Council in Spring 2026.

Stakeholder Meetings Underway

The project team met with the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel in January and April. A public drop-in engagement session was set up during the Walden Winter Carnival to introduce the next phase of the project. In the past few weeks, stakeholder meetings have taken place with key groups connected to the preferred locations that were previously identified including the Anderson Farm Museum & Heritage Society, the Walden Seniors & Pensioners, the Lively Ski Hill Committee, the Lively Public Library/Citizen Service Centre, and the Walden Youth Centre. There was also a general stakeholder meeting that took place with groups that had previously been identified by the Advisory Panel as important to consult with. Sessions are currently taking place with children from local schools in Lively and with Atikameksheng Anishnawbek.

Steps will be taken to provide an update to the public after these stakeholder sessions are complete with information being shared on Over To You, on social media and through physical posters that will be displayed in sites throughout Lively. The project team will then be working towards developing an initial conceptual design for each of the three preferred sites. At this stage, the City will solicit community feedback on these conceptual designs and a meeting with the Accessibility Advisory Panel will be scheduled.

Tender Awarded

The tender for the Lively Recreation Project has been awarded to 3rdLine Studio, a local architectural company who has been in practice for more than 40 years.

The studio provides full architectural services including master planning, functional programming building condition assessments and Building Information Modeling (BIM) and animations and is experienced in a diverse range of projects including recreation facilities, schools, public works facilities, industrial shops, commercial retail spaces, offices, cultural centres, multi-unit residential, long-term care and treatments centres.

Over the last three years 3rdLine Studio has worked on a number of recreational projects ranging in size, scope and type, including: Lively Ski Hill Chalet Renewal, Lively Golf Club Facility Renovations, Lo Ellen Park Outdoor Rink Redevelopment, Town of Central Manitoulin Recreation Infrastructure Study, Caruso Club Interior Renovations and Timmins Multi Use Community Recreation Complex.

3rdLine Studio will be bringing in the expertise of Recreational Planner Jon Hack to support this project. Jon has led the development of numerous recreation master plans for communities across Canada; he will provide planning expertise and perspective to this project and will be actively involved in community consultation activities.

The Lively Recreation Advisory Panel will meet in January to discuss next steps.

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

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.