The City of Airdrie looks to welcome more recreation opportunities with the addition of a new recreation centre. Airdrie's population has seen a 20 per cent growth over the past five years, and current recreation facilties are often operating at capacity during prime-time hours. In response, a quarter section of land was purchased in 2018 in partnership with Mattamy Homes and Rocky View School Division. The City acquired a 20.85 per cent share of the land for a new multi-purpose recreation centre to be located at the corner of Southwinds Boulevard and Southwinds Drive.

2017 - Council identifies priority for a new recreation facility.

2018 - Land is acquired in partnership with Mattamy Homes and Rocky View School Division at Southwinds Boulevard and Southwinds Drive.

2021/2022 - The City of Airdrie commissions GEC Architecture and HarGroup Management Consultants Inc. to conduct the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study.

2023 - City Council approves a thematic option focusing on the broadest community voiced needs for Phase I of the facility.

View the indoor and outdoor recreation needs assessment study (PDF)

Council reviewed The Southwest Recreation Facility Pathway Forward For Airdrie: Phased Approach to Development of Facility Components and Amenities Summary Report. The report presented two thematic options for Phase I of the new facility: broadest community voiced needs and priorities or a sports focused use. On June 5, 2023, Council approved the recommendation of the Community Services Advisory Board (CSAB) to build the new SW recreation centre with an amenity focus that addresses the broadest community voiced needs and priorities found in the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study. As such, Phase I of the facility will include leisure pools, a 25 m lane pool, fitness centre, supporting spaces and potential family play spaces. 

View The Southwest Recreation Facility Phased Approach to Development of Facility Components and Amenities Summary Report (PDF)

Administration is preparing the scope of work for an RFP to procure a project management and design team for this fall. Subsequently, a site master plan of the entire 33 acres will be developed to include the footprint and site access plan for the first and future phases of the recreation centre. A conceptual design and functional program is to be developed by the design team. A detailed geotechnical site condition assessment and site prep work such as water, sewer, electrical will commence in late 2024 or early 2025. 

In 2021, GEC Architecture and HarGroup Management Consultants Inc. were commissioned by the City to conduct the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study as part of the initial planning for a new multi-purpose recreation facility and regional park within the community. Information gathered for the study involved input from residents and stakeholders to understand the community's use of current recreation facilties. This information will be used to determine amenity interests and community expectations.

The Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study involved gathering input and information from a wide range of sources to assess gaps within the community.

Resident Engagement

• Surveys conducted with Airdrie residents
• Random invite survey and open engage survey

Service Provider Engagement

• Survey of participant organizations
• Input from school divisions, Airdrie Chamber of Commerce, and 36 local service provider organizations

Comparative Review

• Review of comparative infrastructure conducted with six communities representating a range of populations (2016 Federal Census)

Other Input

• Review of key City of Airdrie planning documents such as AirdrieOne Sustainability Plan, Airdrie City Plan, Airdrie Youth Needs Assessment, Great Places Plan, Airdrie Sports Field Management Plan and the Artificial Turf Sportsfield Feasibility Study 

Internal Input

• Meetings held with Recreation and Parks staff
• Review of user, utilization and finance statistics from City of Airdrie recreation and parks facilities

Highlights of the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Facility Needs Assessment Study.

• 97 per cent of residents state that "recreation is important to quality of life in Airdrie"
• 89 per cent of households indicated that they would be more active if more recreation facilities were available
• Households allocated $68 out of $100 towards indoor recreation
• 89 per cent of households indicated new recreation facilities are important to their own households or for the community at large
• 80 per cent of households agreed with the concept of constructing a new recreation facility in southwest Airdrie