Business View Civil and Municipal | January 2021

164 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL JANUARY 2021 number of amenities, including a multi-purpose community hall / gymnasium, a turf facility, multipurpose rooms, an indoor walking/jogging track, indoor playground and community kitchen totaling $18 million. On the same site, the municipality has just completed a community skate park and have broken ground on a splash pad. The municipality is also working on a plan to repurpose the old lagoon into a community recreation space by building a wetland which includes an off land area incorporating native vegetation, walking and hiking trails, picnic shelters, and more, subject to grant availability. Council is also investing in infrastructure to improve the community for current residents and accommodate growth in Springfield. The Dugald water treatment plant upgrade plan will cost about $3.3 million and includes the development of a new water source, updating the ground water lines, expanding and insulating the reservoir, and treatment process upgrades. Although the price tag seems high, Council received a government grant to complete the project. And Springfield administration continues to apply for grants for all of their initiatives. A $6 million water treatment plant upgrade will allow additional growth in Oakbank, and includes locating an additional water source. According to Fell, “Oakbank’s water mains will be extended in a multi-year phased project that will increase the reliability and reduce health risk. These projects to extend those waterlines are dependent on funding availability and we also go out to the public that live in the designated area to see if the homeowners have an interest in moving forward.” In addition, they are expanding the lagoon that feeds Oakbank and Dugald because the current lagoon will not meet the needs with projected growth in 2023. Springfield Council has been working hard to ensure it’s an attractive place for businesses to put down roots and for existing companies to expand. The municipality has a vast amount of undeveloped land and hope to have development and zoning plans completed