Community in the park: Inside the spaces bringing Renfrew together

Community spaces in Renfrew continue to bring people together, but with many relying on older users, questions remain over how they will adapt to attract younger generations.

On weekday evenings inside the William McMaster Centre in Renfrew, the sound of brass instruments fills the hall as members of the Renfrewshire Brass Band rehearse together. For the various groups who meet there each week, it remains an important space for connection in the town.

Robertson Park, where the William McMaster Centre sits, was established in 1912 after land was donated to the town to create a public space for community gatherings. In the early 20^th century, before modern entertainment and digital media, parks such as Robertson Park played an important role in the community, hosting various band performances, concerts and public celebrations.

Community buildings were later added to allow these gatherings to continue throughout the year. The William McMaster Centre, located at the top of the park, has operated as a community facility since the 1970s, hosting dances, concerts and local clubs. As of 2026, the centre is used by a range of local groups, including a snooker and bowls day club, sequence dancing sessions, and adult learning classes run by ESOL, alongside other community activities. The space is available for local groups and organisations to rent for meetings and events.

Yet despite the regular activity, Tam McLean, caretaker of the William McMaster Centre, said the building remains untapped.

“The people who use it absolutely love it. They come back week after week and would be devastated if it closed. But the problem is that it’s underused.” 

McLean said the main issue is not a lack of interest, but a lack of variety in the age groups using the centre. Many of the regular users are older residents, raising concern about the long-term future of the building.

“There could be youth clubs, art groups, knitting groups, sewing classes, there’s nothing like that now, if younger people were involved, it would bring back life into the building. And maybe then it would feel worth investing in again.”

One of those regular users is Jimmy, 65, who attends the weekly pensioner’s social group.

“It gives me something to do. Gets me out the house, you know? You come in, have a couple of games of snooker or bowls, and you’re around people like yourself. It makes a big difference to my day to day life.”

For regulars like Jimmy, the centre offers routine and connection, but its reliance on older users raises questions about how long that can be sustained. The centre’s weekly timetable reflects this, with most activities aimed at older residents.

Weekly Schedule at the McMaster Community Centre

One group that continues to use the centre regularly is the Renfrewshire Brass Band, which rehearses there during the week. Unlike many of the centre’s activities, the band attracts a mix of ages, bringing together both younger and older members. For those involved, the hall remains an important place to meet, practise and perform together. In return for performing at council events, the group is allowed to use the space free of charge.

Across Renfrewshire, community spaces such as the William McMaster Centre are supported through a mixture of council funding and income generated from room bookings by local groups.

In its 2026-27 budget, Renfrewshire Council allocated funding towards community facilities, parks and neighbourhood improvements across the area, reflecting a broader effort to maintain spaces where residents can meet and take part in local activities.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said the council supports a number of community initiatives across the town.

“Renfrewshire Council has supported projects like Kustom Kruizers and activities at the William McMaster Centre by providing buildings, supporting community asset transfer applications and offering funding through programmes such as the Renfrew Local Partnership and Sustainable Communities Fund.”

Community spaces in Renfrew range from traditional halls to parks and newer community-led initiatives.The map below shows some of the different community spaces currently operating across Renfrewshire.

One of the projects mentioned by Hughes is Kustom Kruizers, a community bike workshop located near the entrance to Robertson Park.

Run by Dave Neil, the project was first established through a community asset transfer and offers training for young people to gain bike maintenance qualifications while building confidence. The workshop also hosts a men’s mental health group and informal drop-in sessions for residents.

Dave said many people are unaware of what the space offers until they visit.

“People come in and tell me they didn’t even realise everything that goes on here until they saw it for themselves,” he said.

For some young people, the project offers a place where they feel more comfortable engaging.

“A lot of the kids that come here don’t fully engage anywhere else, but when they come here, they’re fully engaged. They don’t just come here for bikes. Some of them come in just for a hot chocolate and a chat.”

Images courtesy of Kustom Kruizers, used with permission.

From long-standing halls such as the William McMaster Centre to newer initiatives like Kustom Kruizers, spaces within Robertson Park continue to offer residents opportunities to meet, learn new skills and build connections. However, as many remain reliant on older users, their future may depend on whether younger generations begin to make use of them.