Springbrook Community Centre
 located in the recreation and commercial complex
 
Community Events
Room Rental
 excellent facility for
Receptions, Weddings,
Parties, Banquets,
Meetings, Seminars

operated by
the Springbrook
Community Association
 

 
The Evolution of the Recreation Complex --

The Springbrook Recreation Centre was built in 1951 as a 6 acre multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility for personnel living at Canadian Forces Base Penhold, as part of the recommissioning of the area as a NATO base. The original property comprised of a 42,100 square foot multi-purpose building housing a store, restaurant, gymnasium, 280-seat cinema/theatre, bowling alley, snack bar and shooting range. A separate building housed the arena. Other facilities included a 3,240 square foot outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a track as well as fields for soccer, softball and fastball.

As the NATO base wound down, the facilities continued to be used for the various other military uses of the base, including the summer air cadet training program that continues to this day.
 
When the base was sold to private developers in 1995, the recreation complex was operated by the developers for a few years, later by a fitness management company under the name 'Mynarski Park Recreation Centre'. The store was leased under the name 'JJ's' and the restaurant became a licensed sports bar called 'Big League'. There was also a hair salon for a time.
 
The arena was operated as a 4-sheet curling rink, lounge and concession for several years and in 2005 was sold for use as a hockey training school and for other training purposes. The sports fields, including tennis courts, soccer pitches, softball field, fastball field, track and campground became the responsibility of Red Deer County and several sports activities were arranged by the Springbrook Community Association.

In 2004, the main recreation complex, including the store, restaurant, theatre, gymnasium, bowling alley and fitness rooms, was purchased by Bear Training Centre with the intention of using the facility both for community fitness and as a training facility.
 
The store was re-opened as 'Springbrook General Store' featuring fresh baked goods, subs and sandwiches, pizza, coffee, ice cream, groceries, an ATM machine and movie rentals. The restaurant was temporarily re-opened as a licensed sports bar.
 
During 2005 and into 2006, Bear Training Centre launched their Roughneck Training program, designed specifically for preparing people to enter the oil and gas drilling industry. The program included pre-employment floorman, rig training, rig safety, life skills, fitness and injury prevention.
The theatre was modified to accommodate children's and birthday parties, weddings, banquets, meetings and beer gardens.
 
In 2007, the facility was taken over by Trinidad Drilling as a training centre for the oilpatch. The fitness and wellness area was upgraded to include a tanning salon, sauna, cardio equipment and weight room. In the process, the bowling alley was taken out. Space not needed for training was leased out including the former theatre to the Springbrook Community Association for a community centre.
 
In 2010, both the store and the pub and grill closed and Trinidad put the building up for sale. The store has been leased out to a new operator and is expected to re-open in April.
 

C.A.R.T.S.

Central Alberta Regional
Trails Society