Springbrook recreation centre to reopen
Plans are afoot to re-energize Springbrook’s recreation centre.
Chuck and Gladys Woodrow want to turn the 1950s-era building into a multiplex complex featuring gymnasium, workout facility, sauna and tanning bed, three-lane bowling alley, and even a dinner theatre.
The building was most recently used as a trades training school, which no longer operates.
“Now we’re trying to bring it back as a rec centre for the community and the kids,” said Woodrow.
He wants to draw on local arts and musical talent and provide a forum to showcase them.
“Let’s find out what’s in the community and pull out the best of people. (That’s) what we’re after.”
Red Deer County’s municipal planning commission gave the project its support on Tuesday.
“It means everything to the community,” said Woodrow. “They are so ecstatic about hearing what happened here today,” he said following the decision.
He hopes the facility will be open my mid-month.
“Everything’s already there,” he said, adding it’s just a matter of re-opening the facility and hiring staff.
County planning staff recommended denying the application because of concerns there would not be enough parking. The Land Use Bylaw requires 257 parking stalls, but only 135 will be available.
George Berry, of Berry Architecture and Associates, said there have not been any parking problems at the site previously and none are expected.
The neighbouring curling club has agreed to share parking and there won’t be much overlap among the different activities in the facility.
Coun. Penny Archibald agreed parking is unlikely to be a problem. “This is a small community. A lot of people are going to walk where they’re going.”
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
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