Town of Apex recently issued the following announcement.
The grand opening of the Apex Senior Center was held November 1st with a ribbon cutting at 6pm, followed by building tours and live bluegrass music. The expansive 28,000 square foot facility offers 1.5 stories of “home away from home” for the 55 and over population.
“The Apex Senior Center, connected to the John M. Brown Community Center, provides the finishing piece for inclusively reaching participants of all ages,” said Craig Setzer, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department Director. “This is truly a welcoming space with a coffee bar, rocking chairs overlooking the spacious lawn, and informal spaces to read a book or work on a puzzle with friends. We’re extremely excited to welcome everyone into our new home.”
Each space enables patrons of all abilities to gather and experience a deep feeling of community. This includes casual meeting spaces to play cards and games, and classrooms for new programming like crafts and pottery. Large open rooms, like the 5,100 square foot event space that can accommodate over 400 guests, provide space for fully-loaded event rentals.
“This is another exciting moment to celebrate our focus on maintaining a healthy and engaged community,” said Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert. “The vision of Apex Senior Center was birthed by community engagement, and passionate town staff and leadership. We’re thrilled to open this much-needed gathering space for our seniors to connect with their peers while accessing programing to remain active and independent.”
During the 2014 Parks Master Plan update, a conversation began about the desire to provide additional services and a dedicated space for seniors and active adults. As the Town received public input and continued planning for Pleasant Park (expected to partially open in 2022), making the Senior Center a reality became a community priority.
A committee of Apex staff and community members worked through a conceptual master plan of the building, ensuring each piece of the design was carefully curated for seniors and offered new and diverse programming.
The Senior Center, located at 63 Hunter Street, is the first completed project among many funded through the 2017 Parks Bond, supported by Apex voters with a 76% approval rate. Additional funding of $100,000 from the State of North Carolina Revitalization and Economic Development was also applied to this project.
Original source can be found here.
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