The Municipality of Springfield is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Manitoba with a current population of 16,142. Small to mid-sized sports and recreation facilities of various ages and conditions exist throughout the municipality. However, the existing sports and recreation facilities cannot keep up with the demands associated with the rapid growth of the communities (Dugald, Oakbank, Cooks Creek, Anola, Hazelridge) within the Municipality. Efforts to offer residents an array of recreation opportunities are undermined by a scarcity of programming space, with many residents forced to travel outside our municipality to fulfill their recreation needs.
The need for a large/central community recreation centre was identified by the Municipality of Springfield and work to this end result began in 2019. In 2020, the Springfield Community Recreation Centre (SCRC), now known as Armtec Community Recreation Centre (ACRC), was designed with LM Architectural Group. The renderings were based on a shared vision for an accessible and safe gathering place equipped to satisfy a broad range of social and recreational needs for Springfield residents. With Oakbank experiencing steady growth and being the municipality’s largest community, the ACRC location was selected to coincide with an area where many other developments are occurring.
The proposed 75,000 square foot, 2-story facility will be centrally located at Springfield Centre Drive in Oakbank. The ACRC will provide a number of amenities to address the local needs/interests identified within the Springfield Recreation Master Plan. Amenities will include a multi-purpose community hall/gymnasium, multi-use turf, multipurpose rooms, an indoor walking/jogging track, indoor playground and community kitchen. The facility and site will allow the opportunity for later expansions to incorporate even more activities within the multiplex. Construction will take approximately 1.5 years and the project goal is to have shovels in the ground in Fall 2023.
The Municipality of Springfield aspires to provide residents with opportunities to engage in a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle within the local area. The ACRC will complement existing recreation services by filling gaps and enhancing recreation and social opportunities for the municipality. The proposed ACRC will create a welcome gathering space, one intended to cultivate a strong sense of community and wellness for all ages and abilities in the Springfield community.