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When former mayor Jim Gordon learned there were plans to name the Bell Park boardwalk in his name after it was finished in 2003, he thought there were many other people who were more deserving of the honour.
Being instrumental in the boardwalk becoming a reality was his job, he said.
“I wasn’t really looking for any recognition,” he said. “(The boardwalk) really has been a great benefit to this city, and it’s on the shores of this beautiful lake. This is where you meet your friends, or friends to be, and it has been really good for Sudbury.”
Fast forward to today, and Gordon said he is still humbled by the gesture and appreciative of the recently announced federal funding that will improve the walkway overall.
Gordon was a guest of honour Friday at the funding announcement at the William Bell Gazebo at Bell Park.
The federal government handed over $412,800 to improve the boardwalk. Work will include widening and adding wayfinding signs along the existing pathway and repairing portions of the Jim Gordon boardwalk.
An additional $150,000 will be used for trail improvements at Fielding Memorial Park in Lively and will include resurfacing concrete pathways and decking, regrading pathways to prevent water accumulation, repairing lookout areas and installing accessible seating and signage.
The funds come from the federal government’s COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program.
The province is contributing $130,000 to these projects.
“The governments are reaffirming that these kinds of edifices in a city like this are important and beneficial to the overall health of the community,” said Gordon. “It’s being renewed, they are doing the right thing, and they are making sure the deal they closed in 2003 when they opened the boardwalk continues.”
Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre and Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré made the funding announcement, alongside Mayor Brian Bigger.
The funding will allow the city to rehabilitate well-used and loved paths and trails in some of the most used parks in Sudbury and Lively, said Lefebvre.
“These upgrades will be a welcome investment facilitating active lifestyles, increased connectivity and expanded active transportation for residents of our community,” said Lefebvre.
The community takes great pride in these parks, said Bigger.
“That is why it is so important to maintain their quality by upgrading infrastructure and assets such as pathways, signage and seating areas,” said Bigger.
The funds will help ensure infrastructure is safe and accessible for all residents, so they can keep enjoying all that the “beautiful landscape has to offer,” said Serré.
