Tallahassee Senior Services Seeks Input on Second Center
Provide Input on Design and Programming at Listening Sessions Next Week
April 20, 2018
For the past 40 years, the Old Armory building on North Monroe Street has been the home of the Tallahassee Senior Center (TSC). Throughout that time, Tallahassee’s aging population has grown exponentially, exceeding the capacity of the building. To continue meeting the needs of Tallahassee’s ever-growing, over-50 population, the Tallahassee City Commission ranked a second senior center as one of its top priorities to receive funding from the 2020 sales tax revenues to build a new center.
Next week, area residents are invited to take part in listening sessions designed to get input as it relates to the design of and programs offered by the new, second senior center. Listening sessions will take place on Monday, April 23, at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. at the Tallahassee Senior Center, located at 1400 North Monroe Street.
“In recent years, Tallahassee has topped several national ‘best of’ lists in regards to the quality of life enjoyed by our seniors,” Sheila Salyer, Tallahassee Senior Services director, said. “With 100 percent of our current center’s space allocated for and 95 percent of programming at capacity, we need to expand. Adding a second senior center will ensure that our growing senior population continues to have access to world-class services to keep them active and engaged within our community.”
The proposed plan for the second senior center calls for it to be built in the northeast quadrant of the city along the Welanuee Boulevard extension on acreage in the Canopy development donated by Premier Fine Homes. According to 2010 Census data, the highest number of people aged 60 years and older live in the east and northeast areas of the community.
The proposal also calls for a 30,000-square foot facility with an adjacent 30,000-square foot recreation center and shared-use, multi-purpose gymnasium, which would accommodate activities, classes and programs for active adults.
Tallahassee Senior Services is part of the City of Tallahassee’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs department. The mission of Tallahassee Senior Center is to offer programs, activities and opportunities designed to encourage active living, optimal aging and social fitness for independent adults. To stay in-the-know about senior activities, visit Talgov.com/Seniors or like Tallahassee Senior Center on Facebook.
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