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General History 1939 to present
The development of what is now Springbrook and
the Red Deer Regional Airport started out in the summer of 1939
with several earth moving machines unexpectedly moving onto a
farm about 10 miles south of Red Deer (population 2800). Local
residents suspected that it had something to do with the
anticipated War in Europe, even though war wasn't officially
declared until September. It was announced shortly after that it
was to become part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
No. 36 Service Flying Training School was transferred from
Britain to Penhold and was operated as an RAF station.
The base closed in 1944 and re-opened in 1951 as a flight
training school for NATO. Mynarski Park (named after
P/O Andrew Charles Mynarski),
consisting of houses, duplexes and townhouses, was built in 1954
adjacent to the base for officers and their families. Anderson
of Craigmyle School was built at the same time for Grades 1-8.
A provincial bunker was secretly built in 1964 housing the
provincial warning centre, was sold to a private developer in
1996, bought back by DND and was demolished in 2001.
Military
flying training operations ceased for the base in 1965 and airport
operations were taken over by the City of Red Deer. The base
itself served in a variety of functions and was named
CFB Penhold in 1966
due to armed forces unification. In 1970, the federal government
leased the airport to the province who in turn leased it to Red
Deer.
The
first Red Deer International Air Show was staged in 1983 and was
held every year until 1995 when it went to every second year.
The last airshow was held in 2003 and there are currently no
plans to hold a future show. Airshows going back to the Second
World War were also held
prior to 1983 during times when the base was functioning.
The airport operated as the Red
Deer Industrial Airport until 1999 when it was transferred to
the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority.
The base was downgraded in 1990 to a detachment of CFB Edmonton
and closed in 1995. That same year the Federal governmment sold
the residential and base areas to private developers. The houses
were renovated and sold, the townhouses became condominiums and
the community was re-named 'Springbrook'.
The recreational
facilities were operated by the developer for a few years and
then sold a few times. A bar and grill, a hair salon and general store
started with the new community. The store is still open and the
recreation facilities have been renovated by the new owners to
become a training and fitness centre. A community centre
currently operates in the former theatre.
An active community association rebuilt the three playgrounds
(one renamed Mynarski Park), constructed a multi-purpose pad and
has made several other improvements to the community as wall as
sponsoring several community events.
The old base was renamed Harvard Park (although still part of
the hamlet of Springbrook) where new housing was developed and a
number of businesses including hockey, oilfield, flight,
motorcycle, and police training facilities now
exist. A summer cadet camp still operates annually.
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