A new drop-in space for teenagers opened Tuesday at Grimsby’s Major Refrigeration Peach King Centre, giving youth ages 12 to 18 a free place to hang out, play games, study, or just relax. The Youth Room, part of the centre’s recent $36.7 million expansion, is set up with Nintendo consoles, a Pac-Man arcade game, table tennis, shuffleboard, and free Wi-Fi, along with workspaces that have power access for laptops or other devices.
The room is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and while there’s no cost to use it, teens must be registered ahead of time. A parent or guardian needs to complete the sign-up through the town’s ActiveNet system, and registration is free and lasts for one year.
The Youth Room is the newest piece of the Peach King Centre expansion, which opened in January 2026 after breaking ground in May 2024. The province put $16 million toward the $36.7 million project, and the upgraded facility now has a double gym, indoor walking track, fitness centre, studio space, and community rooms, along with better parking and walkways.
“This project has been years in the making, and it’s rewarding to see the Peach King Centre Expansion and Renovation fully completed,” Mayor Jeff Jordan said when the centre reopened. The town’s Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, which gives residents aged 13 to 19 a say in local decisions, has also been involved in youth programming at the centre—including a free Study Café—and will start monthly meetings this fall.
The Youth Room gives Grimsby teens a dedicated spot that fills a gap in local recreation. With the town growing fast—it’s one of the Niagara Region’s quickest-expanding communities—the new space offers a relaxed, supervised setting where young people can connect without cost being a barrier.
