A new community centre for Springbrook is looking less likely after a feasibility study was conducted on the project.An open house was held in Springbrook on Jan. 26 and public input is still coming in, but Rob Parks, a partner with RC Strategies, the consulting company that conducted the study, said it doesn't look likely to happen soon.ìIt doesn't seem feasible but it doesn't mean it won't happen,î Parks said.ìThe main message there was, ënot yet.' îParks said community halls are usually operated and managed by community associations. There is a good core of volunteers in Springbrook, but they could get exhausted without more people to help run a hall, Parks said. A ìgroundswellî would be needed to make it viable in a limited rental market.It seems Red Deer County already is ìfairly well served for community centres and community halls,î he added.ìThey need to have a decent rental market,î Parks said. The project could be made more feasible if the rental market in the area increases.Proximity to facilities in Penhold and Red Deer is another impediment to having a good market for a community centre, Parks said.RC Strategies has not yet taken formal recommendations back to Red Deer County council. Parks said recommendations would include public feedback that was still coming in and had not been reviewed yet.The feasibility study was initiated due to public interest in having a community centre serve Springbrook.ìThe study was conducted in response to an express desire within the community,î said Jo-Ann Symington, community services manager for Red Deer County.The study cost about $45,000 and was funded through the county's community services budget, she said.Currently, the Springbrook Community Association leases a building to serve as meeting space in the area, she said.Symington said the population of about 1,000 would have to increase to make the project viable. She said the estimate of a population of about 5,000 would be better.ìThe analysis that's been completed has revealed the current population may not sustain a community centre,î she said. ìIt's not viable at this time.îThe presentation given at the open house was posted to Red Deer County's website and shows that of the 94 people who returned a household survey, 76 per cent thought there should be a new community centre facility in Springbrook. Seventy per cent of respondents would support an annual property tax increase to support a new facility.The questionnaire was sent to 433 households. Springbrook residents made up 72 per cent of respondents.The capital costs to build a new facility were estimated in the presentation as totalling more than $3.4 million including the building, development consulting fees, parking, furnishings and equipment.The costs to run the facility, even with ìsignificantî volunteer effort, were estimated to run at a $15,000 loss annually.RC Strategies will be coming back to Red Deer County council in the coming weeks with formal recommendations based on public input and the feasibility study.
