Sudbury

Sudbury's Bell Park plans include less parking, more greenery

New plans were unveiled Thursday night for the redevelopment of the former general hospital parking lot in Sudbury, Ont. The city's architecture firm presented three options.

City reveals plans for former St. Joseph's hospital parking lot

One of three options for the redevelopment of the old St. Joseph's hospital parking lot would provide pedestrian access to the lake, but reduce parking to 20 spaces. (Erik White/CBC)

Fewer parking spots and more green space may be coming to Sudbury's Bell Park.

City architects revealed three designs Thursday night for the redevelopment of the former St. Joseph's hospital parking lot adjacent to the park.

The options are:

  1. Modifications to existing parking lot to enhance the look of the parking lot, but maintain most parking spots.
  2. Eliminate most of the parking lot, keeping 96 spaces available. Introduce more greenery to the area as well as a pedestrian access to the waterfront.
  3. Significant regreening and reducing parking to only 20 spots. Pedestrian access to waterfront.

Architect Louis Belanger said a final design will be based on public input.

"It certainly is a place for every one in the city," Belanger said. "We're trying to get everybody's, or as much input as possible, to provide a solution to that response."

The city has a unique opportunity through the redevelopment, he said.

"There's a lot of potential in that parcel in the park and it's trying to figure out what should we do with it," Belanger said.

The architecture firm is expected to present it's revised plan to council in the new year.