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 are vacant.

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 are vacant.

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 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.

  • April 12, 2022

    City Council approves the nomination of to fill the older adult resident vacancy on the panel. The new panel member has been formally welcomed and introduced to the project by City staff. They will join the panel for the next meeting on April 27, 2022.

    Watch the recorded Nominating Committee Meeting here

  • March 23, 2022

    • At the request of the Panel, a guest speaker presents key information about Simon Lake and its potential as a recreation amenity for investment
    • High levels of phosphorus and previous attempts to remediate the lake are key facts considered by the Panel
    • Collectively, they determine not to proceed with Simon Lake as an option for the project
    • Next steps for the second round The Panel discusses next steps for community engagement with City Staff

  • February 23, 2022

    • The Panel receives a message from Mayor Bigger
    • Futures North presents to the panel on youth engagement
    • The Panel discusses the second phase of engagement with City Staff to ensure maximum opportunity for resident input
    • The Panel is presented with some examples of past recreational projects, active projects, and initiatives within the City of Greater Sudbury

  • January 26, 2022

    • A Panel vacancy was announced and steps to fill the position were reviewed
    • The report to City Council with key findings was reviewed and discussed

    Key findings included:

    • Targeted youth engagement is required
    • Collaboration with Atikameksheng Anishnawbek should be undertaken
    • Emphasis on the budget will need to be reiterated to manage community expectations
    • The project investment should be low or no cost to residents, and should target projects which provide accessible recreation options
    • Central themes for residents are the establishment or enhancement of a swimming feature, the development of active outdoor amenities, and co-located with community gathering spaces

  • November 17, 2021

    • The results from the first community engagement process are reviewed with the Panel members
    • These findings are discussed and summarized to inform the recommendations report to City Council
Page last updated: 30 Nov 2022, 02:28 PM