Springbank Recreation Facilities - Open House

On Thursday, June 19^th, the County is holding an open house to obtain feedback on Springbank’s recreation needs.  The open house will be at the Springbank Heritage Club from 4 – 8 pm. 

For those unable to attend, the County has promised an online survey.  Once it is available, we will let people know.

This may be the only opportunity to provide input on recreation amenities in Springbank before Council commits substantial financial resources into Springbank recreation facilities.  These are your tax dollars.  Be sure to have a say in how they are used. 

Brief Refresher on Where Things Are

Despite many commitments to consult with residents before decisions are made, Springbank residents have not been asked about their recreation priorities for almost a decade.

In 2023, council approved $14 million for Phase 1 of the South Springbank recreation facilities – an event centre with a hall, two multi-purpose rooms, and studio space.  This is the first part of the three-phase facility recommended in the 2021 Recreation Master Plan. It will be built on the 75 acres the County purchased immediately north of the Springbank High School and Springbank Park For All Seasons (SPFAS). 

Last November, apparently without any public engagement, the SPFAS presented expansion plans for an indoor soccer field; a multi-use court sized for competitive basketball; and a three-lane walking/running track around the court space.  Their plan is to build this on the SPFAS land where their baseball diamonds are currently located.  They see these facilities replacing the second phase of facilities recommended in the 2021 Recreation Master Plan.  The estimated cost is $11 million.  While the SPFAS’s proposal may be an acceptable alternative, Phase 2 was not anticipated to start moving forward for another decade. 

At its April 8^th meeting, council directed Administration to work with the SPFAS and the Springbank Community Association to “finalize building footprint opportunities on county-owned land for both the SPFAS expansion facility and the community event centre, including cost savings and related alternatives”.  Council also directed Administration to host a community engagement session to gather input on these – that’s the June 19^th open house. 

On July 22^nd, Council will consider these “building footprint opportunities” and the input received from the community.  The July 19^th open house and online survey are your opportunity to let council know whether you support spending upwards of $25 million on these recreation facilities in Springbank or whether you think there are more important recreation priorities for the Springbank community.

Points To Consider

The proposed facilities are heavily weighted towards organized activities.  However, the needs assessments prepared for the 2021 Recreation Master Plan found that most residents prefer unstructured recreation opportunities.

The last time Springbank residents were asked to rank their recreation priorities, the results were:

• Paved and non-paved trail systems – 56%

• Fitness / wellness facilities – 47%

• Cycling routes and river access – tied at 38%

• Library space and walking / running tracks – tied at 32%

Have your priorities changed since then?  If they haven’t, it isn’t clear how the current plans align with those desires.  If your priorities have changed, do an event centre, an indoor soccer field, a multi-sport court, and a walking/running track give you the best value for your tax dollars for upgraded recreation amenities in Springbank?

While the prospect of new facilities is always tempting, who is going to pay for it all?  Wouldn’t it make more sense to wait until the County approves its planned recreation levy on new development?  Otherwise, the entire cost will come out of our tax dollars.

Everyone in Springbank is within a 20-minute drive of existing alternatives for all these proposed facilities.  A 20-minute drive is Rocky View’s threshold for identifying the need for new facilities. 

Has the County considered competing facilities that already exist or are planned for the near future?  Webber Academy in South Springbank has facilities available for community use outside of school hours.  These include a banquet hall, indoor turf field, and a fitness facility.  Calgary’s new communities in its West View ASP, along the Trans-Canada at its western boundary with Rocky View, include plans for a 160,000 square foot recreation facility with aquatics, gyms, and fitness facilities.  It is intended to serve the surrounding area as well as the immediate community.

Should Rocky View be building facilities that will be predominantly used by Calgary minor sports organizations and Calgary residents?  Or should Rocky View be focusing on amenities that improve unstructured recreation opportunities within the Springbank community?  Things like pathways and trails, river access, and safer cycling routes.

There is only so much money for recreation amenities in Rocky View – this is your opportunity to let the County know your views.