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.

Update: On April 12, 2022, City Council approved 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

The panel continues to meet monthly to discuss options for new recreational amenities and prepare to move forward with the next round of community engagement. Meetings are recorded and available on this page.

First Round Community Engagement

The initial engagement took place from September 17 to November 8, 2021. A survey and idea board were available on Over to You. There were several online tools and information sources available, including background reports, frequently asked questions, posters, a survey and an idea board. Paper copies were also available at Citizen Service Centre//Library locations, and residents could submit their feedback via 311.

The Over to You site received a total of 3,000 visitors with 513 engaged visitors. The survey received 396 responses through the online portal, 311 and paper copies.

Second Round Community Engagement

The City of Greater Sudbury has been working closely with the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel to launch the project’s second community survey to hear from residents about recreation in the Lively/Walden area.

Greater Sudbury residents may receive a call from Oracle Poll to collect their feedback and complete a telephone survey about the project’s next steps.

The second survey is now available in the survey tab on this page as an opportunity for the community to have their say on recreation opportunities. Residents can also call 311 to complete the survey. Paper copies are also available by request at Citizen Service Centres and libraries throughout the city.

During the month of June, there will be several events in the Lively/Walden community for residents to attend and ask questions, give their input and complete the survey.

  • Table at Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocer Friday, June 10, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Table at Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocer Tuesday, June 14, 10:30 – 1p.m.
  • Virtual Open House via Teams Wednesday, June 22, 6-8p.m.
  • Live Open House at the 6th Avenue Playground Saturday, June 25, 12 – 2p.m.

Members of the panel are working with City staff to present the next set of recommendations to City Council in early summer of 2022, 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.

Update: On April 12, 2022, City Council approved 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

The panel continues to meet monthly to discuss options for new recreational amenities and prepare to move forward with the next round of community engagement. Meetings are recorded and available on this page.

First Round Community Engagement

The initial engagement took place from September 17 to November 8, 2021. A survey and idea board were available on Over to You. There were several online tools and information sources available, including background reports, frequently asked questions, posters, a survey and an idea board. Paper copies were also available at Citizen Service Centre//Library locations, and residents could submit their feedback via 311.

The Over to You site received a total of 3,000 visitors with 513 engaged visitors. The survey received 396 responses through the online portal, 311 and paper copies.

Second Round Community Engagement

The City of Greater Sudbury has been working closely with the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel to launch the project’s second community survey to hear from residents about recreation in the Lively/Walden area.

Greater Sudbury residents may receive a call from Oracle Poll to collect their feedback and complete a telephone survey about the project’s next steps.

The second survey is now available in the survey tab on this page as an opportunity for the community to have their say on recreation opportunities. Residents can also call 311 to complete the survey. Paper copies are also available by request at Citizen Service Centres and libraries throughout the city.

During the month of June, there will be several events in the Lively/Walden community for residents to attend and ask questions, give their input and complete the survey.

  • Table at Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocer Friday, June 10, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Table at Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocer Tuesday, June 14, 10:30 – 1p.m.
  • Virtual Open House via Teams Wednesday, June 22, 6-8p.m.
  • Live Open House at the 6th Avenue Playground Saturday, June 25, 12 – 2p.m.

Members of the panel are working with City staff to present the next set of recommendations to City Council in early summer of 2022, supported by results of polling/engagement and the work of the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel.


Read the full report and process update

  • Recreation Survey #2

    We are seeking input for the Lively Recreation Project, which will help inform plans to reinvest the $4M from sale of Meatbird Lake back into the Lively community.

    The personal information collected by this survey is collected under the authority of section 10 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 for the purpose of gathering public input regarding the Lively Recreation Project. Comments and personal information submitted become part of the public record, may be viewed by the general public and may be published in a report to Council, included in a Council Agenda and posted on the City's website. Questions relating to the collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be addressed to the Director of Leisure Services at PO Box 5000, Stn A, 200 Brady St. Sudbury, ON, P3A 5P3, or by telephone at 705-674-4455, extension 2462.

    Complete Form
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Recreation Survey

    Please answer this short survey to help determine recreation needs and preferences in the Lively/Walden area.

    Submissions will be compiled and shared with the Lively Recreation Advisory Panel as they help staff develop recommendations for consideration by City Council.

    Complete Form
  • CLOSED: This application process has concluded.

    Lively Recreation Advisory Panel - Application

    Please answer the following questions. Applicants are encouraged to attach a brief personal resume to their application.

    Completed application forms must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 6, 2021.

    Completed applications can be submitted through overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca, by email to communications@greatersudbury.ca or in person at the Lively Library and Citizen Service Centre at 15 Kin Drive in Lively.

    Applicants must be 18 years old unless indicated otherwise.

    Complete Form
Page last updated: 21 Jun 2022, 05:20 PM