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Senior center near completion of renovation; leaders highlight expanded services and Meals on Wheels capacity
Summary
The director of the Gathering Place senior center reported near‑completion of a nearly $448,000 renovation (largely funded by ARPA, city and county) and described expanded services including a new small gym, increased congregate attendance, Meals on Wheels delivery, adult day health care improvements and community partnerships.
A representative of the county senior center summarized a construction project that cost roughly $447,286 and said the center is close to finishing punch‑list items and preparing a public open house this summer. The speaker said the project’s funding mix included about $195,051 in ARPA funds, $68,250 from the city and $57,000 from the county, leaving an out‑of‑pocket cost to the center of about $126,985.30.
The director said the renovation added a sunroom, a small gym with treadmills and several circuit machines that will be free to those 60 and older, and reconfigured adult day health care space. Since construction began, the center reported a 46% increase in on‑site congregate attendance (from about 15 to low 20s) and an active Meals on Wheels program that had delivered as many as 44,000 meals annually at its peak during COVID; currently there is no waiting list for Meals on Wheels, according to the director.
The presenter emphasized volunteer contributions (about 14 regular volunteers for meal delivery), an expanding adult day health care census under a new director, and positive state monitoring feedback that praised the center’s level of care. The center also plans to open programming such as Mahjong, line dancing, square dancing, and expanded community uses of the new sunroom. The director said the center has been used as a warming and cooling shelter in coordination with Boyle County Emergency Management and is available to community groups for meetings and events.
Why it matters: The renovation expands services and capacity for older residents, preserves community program space, and reduces waiting on home‑delivered meal lists, the director said. The presentation included an outline of funding sources and a request for continued city support.
