To most, it?s just an elevator.
But to many Parkville seniors, it?s a chariot that will whisk them to lands previously unknown: the second and third floors of their senior center.
County Executive Jim Smith joined the senior citizens Thursday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the center?s newly added elevator and $2 million third floor, now home to a computer lab, classrooms, hobby room, offices for the county?s Genealogical Society and the future home of a fitness center.
Once Parkville Elementary School, the third floor has been chained and empty since the school closed in the late 1970s. The second floor, which provides office space for the county?s Recreation and Parks staff, has been off-limits to disabled and arthritic seniors who couldn?t use the stairs.
“It?s quite a different place than I remember and it?s wonderful,” said Eileen Parr, whose daughters went to school in the same building. “I?m most looking forward to the fitness center.”
The senior center is one of 10 that?s been improved during the current terms of Smith and Council Member Joe Bartenfelder, D-District 6, who were joined by the county?s Annapolis delegation for the ceremony. The efforts ? which this year will include the expansion of the Pikesville Senior Center and work on a new one in Jacksonville ? are preparations for what Department of Aging Director Arnold Eppel called the “baby boomer tsunami.”
He?s working on adding fitness centers and Internet access at several more centers.
This is the first year the baby boomer generation can join the senior centers, which have an age requirement of 60.
Officials Thursday said Parkville?s center still needs a few extra touches, such as mirrors in the fitness room, paintings on the walls and more furniture. But seniors and organizers saidthey were thrilled with the finished product.
“This isn?t just what we wanted, it?s what we needed to keep the Parkville community strong,” Bartenfelder said. “It looks better than I ever thought it would.”
