Corte Madera outlines senior programs and advances plan for intergenerational center opening in late 2025

Parks and Recreation Director Tim Berry gave the Corte Madera Parks and Recreation Commission an update April 28 on senior programming participation, budgets and next steps for a planned intergenerational center that staff hope to open in November 2025.

The update matters to residents because the town’s parks and recreation department operates many of the town’s free and low-cost older-adult activities and coordinates an expansion intended to create daily programming space for older adults and intergenerational uses. Berry said the center will require building permits, tenant improvements and multi-department coordination to open.

Berry summarized current senior programs and participation from June 30 through March 31. He reported 1,504 attendances in chair yoga (with nearly 60 people at the most recent class), about 338 enrollments in a free “fun to fitness” class, roughly 75 participants enrolled in pickleball, and a new Chinese mahjong class that filled for May with strong enrollment for June. He said a popular watercolor class has about 75 students, tap and belly dance classes remain active, AARP classes draw about 50 people when offered, and bingo had roughly 506–507 participants over the period referenced. Berry said the Thursday congregate lunch provided by Marin County Aging and Adult Services served 1,292 meals and functions as a weekly social check-in for many attendees.

On finances, Berry presented a rough program budget showing about $9,000 in revenue for senior programming and that expenses exceed revenue, which he said is “pretty normal” because senior programming is provided as a service rather than a revenue generator. He identified roughly $6,000 in contract instructor payments and about $1,300 in supplies for the reporting period; salary and benefits in the senior program line reflect one staff member dedicated to seniors and do not include front-desk time spent by other staff.

Berry also reviewed the intergenerational center proposal that the Town Council considered on April 15. He said the council approved two of three items presented and directed town staff to proceed with the project while the remaining fiscal sponsorship item was returned for further editing. Specifically, Berry said council authorized the Town Manager to enter a five-year lease for the site and approved an agreement with Age Friendly Solutions (identified in the presentation as a consultant led by Carla Condon) to develop operations. A proposed agreement naming a local community foundation as fiscal sponsor and providing $200,000 over five years for initial operational support was pulled back for additional fine-tuning and will return to council, Berry said.

Berry described the proposed site as 195 Tamela Vista Boulevard (referred to in the presentation as The Old Andes Market) and said the space totals about 3,100 square feet: roughly 1,000 square feet for a large activity room, about 500 square feet for a smaller activity room, an entry/lounge area, a new ADA restroom, a small kitchen and approximately 300 square feet of office space proposed for the Chamber of Commerce. He said the space includes outdoor patio area and 14 dedicated parking spaces (about 11 of which are in an underground garage with direct access to the center). A schematic presented to council showed flexible “flex” space, two activity rooms and a lobby; Berry said architectural details and some interior walls could change during final design but pillars in the space are fixed.

Berry outlined permitting and construction steps the town expects: community development review, a building permit, an architect to finalize plans, a contractor to manage build-out, and an interior designer to procure furniture and finishes. On operations, Berry said staff will execute a final contract with Age Friendly Solutions to help develop programming and operations, recruit daily on-site staff (to open, close and manage day-to-day activities), and hire qualified instructors. He said staff also plan membership-style outreach (for example, a no-cost “golden ticket” membership to help people feel welcome) and that program fees and membership models are still under discussion.

When commissioners asked whether the center would operate under the parks and recreation department, Berry replied, “Yes. It’ll be under the park and rec umbrella, going forward and then working with Carla and a trend lead up help program and to get people to attract themselves.” He and commissioners discussed the center’s intergenerational goals; commissioners urged more programming targeted to younger people outside school hours (for example, teenagers teaching technology or financial-literacy sessions) and suggested outreach to local high schools for volunteer opportunities.

Berry said the town’s audit subcommittee (council members Robasio and Ctesis, together with the town manager) will continue work on remaining agreements and that staff aim for a grand opening in November 2025 if permitting and build-out proceed on schedule. He cautioned that the budget figures presented are draft and subject to change — for example, tenant-improvement allowances from the landlord could reduce first-year costs and deposits may be returned later in the lease term.

The presentation was informational to the commission; no vote or commission action on the center was taken at the commission meeting. Berry closed by saying, “I think, overall, we’re very excited for this opportunity,” and commissioners signaled support while emphasizing the need to preserve the intergenerational goal in programming and to finalize budget and permit details before construction begins.

Ending: Staff will return with final permitting information, detailed operating budgets and any required town approvals; the Town Council will act on the outstanding fiscal-sponsorship agreement before staff proceed with final contracting and construction.