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Little Rock parks officials outline new senior center, target late-year opening
Summary
Parks staff said a new senior facility under construction will add roughly 5,000 square feet to an existing building, include a pool and four pickleball courts, and aim to open by November, with programming for adults 50 and older.
The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department said construction on a new senior center is underway and staff are aiming for an opening before the end of the year.
Director Leland Couch told the commission the project will add about 5,000 square feet to an existing roughly 18,000-square-foot building and will include a swimming pool, exercise room, banquet hall and a four-court pickleball area. "This is a facility that we've needed in the city of Little Rock for a long, long time," Couch said during the March meeting.
Staff showed a video synopsis of the facility under construction and said completion is subject to construction schedules and weather delays; Couch noted recent ice storms pushed some interior work back by a few weeks. The department is targeting November for opening but emphasized that date could change.
Shawanda, a programming staff member, described program plans and the age requirement: "You have to be 50 to participate in any of the activities there," she said. She said planned offerings include lunches, trips and regular activities, and that staff will promote the center through the department website, flyers and presentations.
Operations Director Justin (present to answer technical questions) and marketing coordinator Graham Brown said staff will continue outreach to the age-50-plus population and integrate the center into existing senior programming at community centers and the East Little Rock Senior Center. Couch said the center will serve as the department's primary hub for senior services while community centers continue to host other regular programming.
The commission asked how residents can learn about the center; staff said the department will use its website, flyers and presentations at partner organizations to publicize schedules and registration details. No formal votes or budget approvals took place at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed timelines and outreach plans as construction progresses.
The department plans to report further updates at upcoming meetings as construction milestones are reached.
