27 October, 2025

Restoring the Bell Park Walkway in Sudbury

large building atop a hill with trees birdeye

The Bell Park Walkway is one of Sudbury’s most popular routes, drawing walkers and hikers to the shores of Ramsey Lake. Unfortunately, however, the floating boardwalk that linked the Trans Canada Trail through Bell Park became unsafe in recent years. The path was closed, and trail users were pushed out to a busy intersection, which took them away from the heart of the park.

“The floating dock that completes the section of the Trans Canada Trail which goes through Bell Park, onto the Ramsey Lake walkway is an important part of the trail,” says Rachel Mantas, Executive Director of Rainbow Routes. “We knew many residents preferred to stay on the water and away from the traffic at this major artery where the trail was re-routed. The floating boardwalk is much more calming and quieter to use, with a beautiful view of Ramsey Lake.”

A partnership with Rainbow Routes and Science North

In 2024, Rainbow Routes applied for a Trail Infrastructure and Major Repairs grant from Trans Canada Trail. The group worked with Science North and other community supporters to rebuild the floating boardwalk. The new boardwalk was prefabricated outside of Sudbury, shipped in late May and installed in June 2025.

“We had a really great partnership with Science North. This project showed how they care deeply about major access points in the city,” Rachel says.

Heidi Tillmanns, Director of Trail Infrastructure with Trans Canada Trail, agrees. “The restoration of the Bell Park Walkway demonstrates the power of community partnerships and the value of investing in accessible infrastructure. At Trans Canada Trail, we are proud to support projects like this that not only connect people to nature but also strengthen the fabric of local communities.”

boardwalk over water on a sunny day

Photo credit: Rainbow Routes Association

Celebrating the restored trail with an opening ceremony

On June 20, an opening ceremony was held along the Trans Canada Trail. Approximately 25-30 individuals were in attendance, with at least 4 media outlets present. Earlier in the morning, there was a water demonstration by Indigenous Peoples of the area, prior to the media arriving.

Rachel from Rainbow Routes delivered a special statement from Trans Canada Trail’s CEO, Mathieu Roy, and spoke about upcoming plans to use the trail for the Sudbury Camino and other projects. Speakers included past mayor of Sudbury, Jim Gordon, along with Mitch Seguin, Director of Operations of Science North, and Ashley Larose, CEO of Science North.

people smiling on boardwalk while cutting a rope

Photo credit: Rainbow Routes Association

A well-used trail section

Since its reopening, park users can be seen frequently out on the Bell Park Walkway. Rainbow Routes also included the Bell Park Walkway as part of the Sudbury Camino on August 16 – approximately 150 people participated, with the large majority of users following the Bell Park Walkway. “We’ve seen how much the community appreciates the trail – people are much happier with the trail back in action!” Rachel says.

people cutting a rope on a boardwalk on sunny day