Outdoor recreation in Ward 1 has received some significant boosts in recent months.
So described Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti during Wednesday’s town hall meeting at Verdicchio Ristorante, listing several recent accomplishments and more on the horizon.
Hosted by Mayor Paul Lefebvre, Signoretti’s updates on outdoor recreation facilities was the meeting’s key update for Ward 1 residents. The event was a significantly less raucous affair than some other town halls Lefebvre has headed in recent months.
Delki Dozzi Sports Complex, off of Mary Street, is “a gem” in Ward 1, Signoretti said, and it has only shone brighter in recent months.
A splash pad was recently added, and Delki Dozzi’s track was resurfaced, where new lighting was installed.
“We heard the concerns from the cycling groups and residents walking their dogs ... and that’s been taken care of,” he said.
Delki Dozzi is also part of the city’s sports courts revitalization project, with work on a tennis court, two pickleball courts, a half-court basketball and skate park to be completed this spring.
The volunteer-run Ward 1 Community Action Network will be launching an accessibility project at Delki Dozzi Community Garden on June 3, chair Colleen Zilio said. Their goal will be to make the garden more accessible to those with mobility issues.
Robinson Playground saw its hockey rink receive a concrete pad last year. Signoretti also cited the construction of the Marcel Tot Lot on Bouchard Street as another recent accomplishment.
Work on Kelly Lake Road was also recently completed. Although not a park, he said the inclusion of sidewalks and cycling trails contributed toward the city’s active transportation.
Also contributing toward pedestrian safety, the city’s gateway speed limits program is expanding throughout a swath of Ward 1 this year, the details of which will be determined by city council this year. The program has blanket speed limits applied to areas of the city, with 40 km/h throughout and 30 km/h in school zones.
The following are some other highlights from Wednesday’s meeting.
- Lefebvre reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring something happens at the long-vacant old hospital building on Paris Street. It’s a topic he has been asked at various town hall meetings, and he has affirmed his commitment to working with the property’s owner, Panoramic Properties, to get something done at the property. Wednesday’s commitment was his strongest yet, with Lefebvre pledging: “In my term, something will happen.”
- The Southview Drive speed bumps were a lesson learned, Signoretti said, noting that while they’ve been a success for that road in particular, the city’s broader network of roads needs to be taken into consideration. “Drivers’ behaviour is to change their route, so instead of looking at one street you need to look at it holistically and multiple streets.” In response to motorists shifting over to the adjacent Robinson Drive, Signoretti successfully pushed to have traffic-calming bollards installed on Robinson last year.
- Asked whether the city was going to do anything to ensure Laurentian University’s long-term sustainability, Lefebvre said it’s “a pillar of our community” and “we need it to succeed,” but that it’s more provincial jurisdiction. Given the city’s current challenges, primarily with its infrastructure deficit, he said there’s lots on the city’s plate when considering their own jurisdiction. “I’m very confident in the future of Laurentian,” he said.
- Asked about what the city can do to support pollinators, and whether the city would allow property owners to create year-round naturalized areas, Lefebvre said he’s “more than happy to engage.” Although the city recently amended a bylaw to allow lawns to remain unmowed during the month of May, a University of Guelph expert told Sudbury.com that allowing grass to grow long and then cutting it might do more harm than good. She recommended year-round naturalized environments.
- The city spent approximately $55 million on roads this past year, but Lefebvre said his goal is for them to spend at least $70-$80 million. “It’s only by increasing our tax base, having more industry set up here and having more taxpayers paying taxes here that we can achieve that,” he said. A recent municipal report noted the city needs to spend at least $80 million per year on roads to maintain them in their current overall condition. As it stands, they’re degrading each year.
Wednesday’s town hall-style meeting was the latest in a series Lefebvre is hosting throughout all 12 of Greater Sudbury’s wards this year. His previous meeting was held May 3 in Hanmer, with Ward 6 Coun. René Lapierre.
The mayor’s next town hall-style meeting will take place at Lasalle Secondary School (1545 Kennedy St.) on May 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m. He will be joined by Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
