Citizens want hidden bush land transformed

A Sudbury citizens group is hoping to turn 92-acres of city-owned bush land into a green space rivalling Bell Park.

The property is on the east end of Ramsey Lake, near Moonlight Beach.

"We need to get public access to it and we need to enjoy it," said city councillor Terry Kett.

Kett and a group of residents have been drawing up plans for one of the last undeveloped shorelines on Ramsey Lake - Frenchmen's Bay.

"We're thinking that we want it to be self-sustaining," said Kett. "We don't want the city putting any tax money into this."

Rod Bazinet lives in the area and founded the citizens panel now looking to transform the vacant land into a waterfront attraction.

"In my mind it's probably one of the most underused gems in the city and if I can polish it up a little bit, I can get the community to recognize just how amazing the site is," said Bazinet.

Bazinet envisions a picnic area, botanical gardens, a waterslide park and grounds for touring carnivals to set up.

His group is aiming to make enough money renting out the property to run the park without tax dollars.

Kett didn't even know about the Frenchmen's Bay property until Bazinet told him about it.

"Even the clerks had no idea what I was talking about. Most of the community has no idea Frenchmen's Bay exists because we have no public access to it," said Kett.

The idea will need approval from Sudbury City Council before it can move ahead.