Regardless of the expense, Innisfil's newest municipal buildings are certainly getting usage.

It's been over one year since the municipality officially opened the Innisfil Recreation Complex, and about 1.5 years since the New Town Hall's sliding glass doors allowed resident access. And several weeks ago, the Cookstown Library and Community Centre became the latest public building to open in the town.

In total, the buildings have cost about $45 million, not including debt financing. Each facility has been approved with its share of criticism from local residents, who argued everything from need of each facility to the overall price tag.

But each of these facilities have proven, at least initially, to be successful in their own unique ways.

The recreation centre has hosted provincial hockey and figure skating tournaments since it opened. It has been bustling with skaters every weekend, while soccer fields were teeming with local clubs several evenings each week during the summer.

Meanwhile the warm side, run by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, has boasted its own achievements. Recently, the YMCA exceeded a membership of 5,000 people — a substantial portion of the municipality's population — who use the gymnasium, pool, fitness centre and running track to help improve their health and well being. The YMCA has also run several charitable events since the facility opened, promoting peace, international issues, and important child issues.

The library became the first new public facility to open in Cookstown in several decades. It has hosted author visits, musical entertainment, video game tournaments and other youth and adult activities and programs aimed at improving literacy and community bonding. The facility is also Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, something that can be used as a tool to teach children about the environment, and save the municipality energy costs.

There's also space for an expansion of the community centre, to include baseball diamonds, and outdoor splash pad, or other amenities that simply would not have been possible at the library's previous location.

Even the town hall has become community oriented. In addition to its regular duties as a council chamber and municipal administration office, the facility has been used for several town functions. On Friday, the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce hosted its first annual Festival of Lights outside the building, giving away free hot chocolate and popcorn, and decorating the hall's large coniferous tree. But over the last few months, the hall has hosted meetings, hearings and open houses for the Ontario Municipal Board, the South Simcoe Stream Network and various local organizations. Even town public information sessions have become much more accessible for people living with disabilities.

All of these buildings have helped to improve the quality of life for town residents. Each came with costs, which could impact other municipal services sometime soon, but the success of these facilities is difficult to argue against.