Lively/Walden: Help Shape Your Future

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

The focus of the project is to create a new park, focused around water, animated with four season, passive activities for multi-generational users.

The park would be a new gathering place; the heart of the community where unique and extraordinary features support cultural activities and play, uniquely accessible and connected to the community.

November 26, 2025 – Site Evaluations Unveiled

Thank you to everyone who attended the public open house on Wednesday, November 26, regarding the new Lively recreation facility.

The project 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.

If you were unable to attend the session at the Michael Vagnini Community Hall, you can still review the designs and share your thoughts. The City is committed to ensuring all residents can provide feedback on this important community project. The survey form on Over to You will remain open until December 19, 2025. Feedback gathered from the open house and the online engagement period will be combined with the Advisory Panel’s evaluation. A project update is scheduled to be presented to City Council in Spring 2026.

Evaluative Criteria

Evaluating criteria was developed by the project team. The Lively Recreational Committee rated each of the developed options against the criteria.

All three sites contained desirable elements and will improve the community. However, this process identified the Anderson Farm as the site that best fulfilled the overall goals of the project. Given the proposed functional program budget and time frame, Anderson Farm is in the best position to support the development of a new community heart. Sensitive development of the site was viewed as supportive of the community’s heritage, and provided a venue that, with available funds, could support the development of unique and desirable features.

The other sites are worthy of development. However, the Ski Hill East Park could not be developed in the time frame desired, required significantly more capital funds than is available and presented safety concerns; the Kin Park site was not large enough to accommodate the functional program. Neither of these two sites could provide the optimized value of capital improvement to the Anderson Farm site.

The Lively Recreation Panel concluded that the Anderson Farm site was the most worthy site for the proposed project.

Project History

The Lively Recreation Advisory Panel was established in the fall of 2021 with ten members from the Walden/Lively community. While most panel memberships expire with a new term of City Council, this panel's membership continues due to its project-based nature, ensuring knowledge transfer and continuity of work.

Following direction from Council, the terms of reference were adjusted to replace two youth panel positions—due to a lack of participation—with new adult members. Staff will now consult with local youth leadership groups to find new ways to engage this demographic.

Two rounds of community engagement have been completed: the first in September 2021 and the second in June 2022. This engagement included online surveys, idea boards on the "Over to You" platform, and paper copies at Citizen Service Centres/Libraries. In June 2022, Oracle Poll conducted a city-wide telephone survey on the project's next steps. The panel members are currently collaborating with City staff to prepare the next set of recommendations for City Council, utilizing the polling, engagement results, and the panel’s work.

The focus of the project is to create a new park, focused around water, animated with four season, passive activities for multi-generational users.

The park would be a new gathering place; the heart of the community where unique and extraordinary features support cultural activities and play, uniquely accessible and connected to the community.

November 26, 2025 – Site Evaluations Unveiled

Thank you to everyone who attended the public open house on Wednesday, November 26, regarding the new Lively recreation facility.

The project 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.

If you were unable to attend the session at the Michael Vagnini Community Hall, you can still review the designs and share your thoughts. The City is committed to ensuring all residents can provide feedback on this important community project. The survey form on Over to You will remain open until December 19, 2025. Feedback gathered from the open house and the online engagement period will be combined with the Advisory Panel’s evaluation. A project update is scheduled to be presented to City Council in Spring 2026.

Evaluative Criteria

Evaluating criteria was developed by the project team. The Lively Recreational Committee rated each of the developed options against the criteria.

All three sites contained desirable elements and will improve the community. However, this process identified the Anderson Farm as the site that best fulfilled the overall goals of the project. Given the proposed functional program budget and time frame, Anderson Farm is in the best position to support the development of a new community heart. Sensitive development of the site was viewed as supportive of the community’s heritage, and provided a venue that, with available funds, could support the development of unique and desirable features.

The other sites are worthy of development. However, the Ski Hill East Park could not be developed in the time frame desired, required significantly more capital funds than is available and presented safety concerns; the Kin Park site was not large enough to accommodate the functional program. Neither of these two sites could provide the optimized value of capital improvement to the Anderson Farm site.

The Lively Recreation Panel concluded that the Anderson Farm site was the most worthy site for the proposed project.

Project History

The Lively Recreation Advisory Panel was established in the fall of 2021 with ten members from the Walden/Lively community. While most panel memberships expire with a new term of City Council, this panel's membership continues due to its project-based nature, ensuring knowledge transfer and continuity of work.

Following direction from Council, the terms of reference were adjusted to replace two youth panel positions—due to a lack of participation—with new adult members. Staff will now consult with local youth leadership groups to find new ways to engage this demographic.

Two rounds of community engagement have been completed: the first in September 2021 and the second in June 2022. This engagement included online surveys, idea boards on the "Over to You" platform, and paper copies at Citizen Service Centres/Libraries. In June 2022, Oracle Poll conducted a city-wide telephone survey on the project's next steps. The panel members are currently collaborating with City staff to prepare the next set of recommendations for City Council, utilizing the polling, engagement results, and the panel’s work.

  • 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

  • November 3, 2021

    • The Panel is presented with demographic information about the residents of their community to inform their decision making
    • City staff present The Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) to the Panel and discuss its integration with the Lively Recreation project. CEEP is the long-term plan to reduce carbon emissions and pollution in Greater Sudbury

  • October 20, 2021

    • Members of the panel are elected as Chair and Co-Chair
    • Panel members attend a presentation detailing the greenspace analysis for the community of Lively/Walden to support decision making about the community
    • Panel members are also provided information about the state of existing infrastructure
Page last updated: 28 Nov 2025, 03:12 PM