City officials hope the renovated Grenfell Hall will become a hive of activity

It’s not often you use the word “charming” to describe a council-owned property, but it’s the only word that accurately describes the newly renovated Grenfell Community Hall in the town of Springwater.

With a welcoming color palette and soft, diffused lighting from a series of wall sconces, the interior of the hall, located just west of Barrie, feels more like a living room than a meeting space.

A small kitchen at the back of the hall enhances the residential atmosphere.

However, a third sink in the kitchen gives the hall a unique selling point: it meets the sanitation standards for a separate hand-washing sink (in addition to sinks for washing and rinsing dishes), making this hall a top choice for anyone looking to host an event that will be centered on not only on food, but also on entertainment and fun.

“It’s cute, isn’t it?” Springwater Township District 4 Dist. said Anita Moore as she led a group of visitors Wednesday evening on a tour of the facility, located at 1989 Sunnydale Road. “We have new electricity, new lighting, new windows, a new paved driveway and a new kitchen.

“If you haven’t seen this before, trust me, it looks fantastic,” she added.

The hall, built in 1953, closed about seven months ago. It returned to the township’s list of properties a few weeks after the township spent about $125,000 to renovate and update the building.

In August 2022, staff estimated the cost of renovating the hall would be about $75,000. In November 2023, the project received an additional $49,500 from the recreation facility reserve due to increased construction and renovation costs.

“I think it’s a great success,” Dean Collver, Springwater’s director of recreation, parks and facilities, said near the end of the tour. “We want to bring life back to these buildings.”

Moore said the space used to be a bustling place, from birthday parties and baby showers to weddings and family reunions.

Over the years, numerous community groups, including Girl Guides, wood carving clubs and euchre clubs, have held weekly meetings, she said.

She hopes the recent improvements will bring people back to the hall’s front doors.

“We have 50 acres here,” Moore said. “In addition to the gym, we have two baseball fields, a playground, an outdoor indoor skating rink and plenty of parking.

“And it’s cheap, really cheap.”

According to the village’s utility bills, the Grenfell Community Hall, which can accommodate 60 people, rents for $200 per day when booked on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holidays. It also costs $200 per day if you need a liquor license, regardless of the day of the week.

Renting the venue for the whole day from Monday to Thursday without a liquor license costs $150.

Hourly room rental is $30, Monday through Thursday.

Some reservations require a $150 deposit.

Springwater’s other public buildings – Anten Mills, Elmvale, Hillsdale, Midhurst and Mining – have undergone building condition assessments, giving the city the ability to select projects that can be managed and implemented without breaking the bank.

The municipality is currently seeking support Anten Mills Community Centerwhich requires new flooring, a new suspended ceiling and many other upgrades.