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.

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."