Sudbury city council to vote on green corridor connecting downtown with Ramsey Lake - Action News
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SudburySUDBURY CITY HALL

Sudbury city council to vote on green corridor connecting downtown with Ramsey Lake

Sudbury city council is getting ready to vote on the creation of a business case for a project that would see a linear park and trail built from the downtown to Ramsey Lake and Science North.

'It was believed that this was a project the private sector would get excited about, rally around'

An artist's rendering of what the proposed Elgin Greenway would look like crossing under the Paris Street bridge. (City of Greater Sudbury )

Sudbury city council is getting ready to vote on the creation of a business case for a project that would see a linear park and trail built from the downtown to Ramsey Lake and Science North.

The Elgin Greenway was originally pegged between $5 million and $6 million, but the price has jumped to $8.5 million according to a new staff report.

"It's kind of surprising because from the outset this was designed to be a project that would have a private sector sponsorship component to it," said Susan Thompson, managing director of the Downtown Village Development Corporation.

"It was believed that this was a project the private sector would get excited about, rally around and we did have corporate entities interested in sponsoring parts of it."

Can the private sector play a role?

The cost estimate for the project includes upgrades to the Riverside Pedestrian Tunnel and Nelson Street Footbridge, creation of public plazas, design and construction contingencies,and $4.9 million forthe actual greenway itself.

The city has already committed $1 million towards the bill.

Two funding applications have also been submitted with FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for $1 million each.

If approved, the Elgin Greenway would break ground this year and be completed by2020.

"For a number of reasons, it's an extremely important project," Thompson said.

"I think we're almost there. I just think we might have to revisit how it's going to be funded to make it more friendly to the taxpayer."