Orange tarps were removed this week to provide a glimpse into the new multi-sport complex that is phase one of the long-awaited addition to the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC), which was handed over to the town this past week.
“We want to build the excitement around the opening of the facility May 1 for the Cochrane Trade Show,” said SLSFSC general manager Robin Mitchell, gesturing toward the hallway that segues to the facility expansion as onlookers curiously take a peek from behind the fence.
Walking down the hallways, echoes reverberate off the concrete and paint fumes waft up from the freshly coated walls of “famen temple” medium blue, “Chinese artichoke” olive green, “micrometer” rusted orange and “October” butter yellow.
The reveal is a brightly-lit, cavernous facility with a curling rink that will double as a multi-use space; a foyer with spiraling staircase leading the aluminum-railed way to several multi-purpose rooms: where Cochrane Sports Physio, P3 Sports and Cochrane martial arts will soon relocate from the original building.
There are currently three tenant spaces up for grabs – a lower level 1,200 sq. ft. space; a 2,900 sq. ft. and the 4,300 sq. ft. lounge/restaurant space.
By July, the community will splash into the lane pool from the winding red and blue slides after some play in the leisure/wave pool or rejuvenate in the warm water therapy pool as the final phase of the $48 million capital project is revealed.
One of the questions on current facility users’ minds is what about the child minding?
Social media channels were swamped over the last couple of months with concern that tot-toting parents may lose the child minding currently included in the monthly pass following the full facility opening.
Child minding will continue to remain at the same location in the existing building and facility pass holders will be able to access up to three 1.5 hour child minding slots per week.
Each slot is for all children from the same household – so members will be provided the same amount of child minding time, regardless of number of children in the family.
There will be a number of pass options, including fitness membership (new fitness centre to open by May) for $1,023/year/family or $93/month/family and a full facility membership (including the aquatic centre) for $1,309/year/family or $119/month/family.
Current facility memberships are $925/year/family or $93/month/family.
For early bird specials and grandfathered membership rates, contact SLSFSC at 403-932-1635.