Replacing mulled by Springfield

4/27/2006

Springfield Township's Strawberry House, where thousands of people have purchased fresh-from-the-field seasonal treats, might be replaced with a new community center.

Bob Anderson, township administrator, said that township trustees have given him the go-ahead to look into the possibility of a community center similar to the Nederhouser Community Hall at Sylvania's Olander Park. Township officials toured that facility last week .

Sylvania's community hall, named for the park system's first director, Orval "Red" Nederhouser, is a 160-seat rustic lodge on Lake Olander where weddings, corporate picnics, graduation parties, family reunions, and other functions are held.

The Strawberry House, a shelterhouse-picnic area located in Community Homecoming Park, continues to serve as a good place to hold family reunions, picnics, or graduation parties, but it's starting to show its age.

"We're looking into creating a nicer looking building that we could rent out for weddings and other events," said Andrew Hohlbein, lead man for Springfield Township's road department, who is involved in the planning for a new facility. A year-round community center that could accommodate 150 to 200 people is being considered, he said.

The festival this year is set for June 14-18 at Community Homecoming Park, 7807 Angola Rd., Holland.