Springfield rec centre to break ground this summer

The long-awaited Springfield Community Recreation Centre project is moving ahead with construction expected to start this summer.

The project has been 32 years in the making, according to Mayor Patrick Therrien, who said the $30 million project will be done in two phases.

“We’re just going with phase one, which is the complex itself with the large gym, our walking track, plus a meeting room in the front,” he said. “The second phase will be the soccer turf, the area there that could be utilized for soccer, football, baseball – the field house.”

Council has budgeted $20.6 million for the first phase and $10 million for the second phase.

According to the request for proposals, the 4,148 sq.m (44,647 sq.ft) building will be a two-storey structure with an open interconnected upper floor area built on a 15-acre site located in Oakbank near the fire station and the RM office.

Construction will consist of a pre-engineered building structure in combination with conventional structural steel framing at the front entrance and suspended running/walking track, according to the RFP. The building will include a hardcourt multi-sport gym area complete with locker rooms and team rooms. In addition, the first phase of the building will hold social and community events, administration areas, and an indoor playground area adjacent to a café/lounge space.

“And there’s talk of putting in a school that might be right beside (the recreation centre) or close by, plus another large subdivision in there, Qualico Homes, which is at the center of Springfield Drive and Springfield Road. So that large community in there, Qualico Homes is building a subdivision in there,” said the mayor.

Therrien estimates the recreation centre will be built in 20 months.