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A senior center is in the works for Highland Village. The Teen Center working in conjunction with the Greater Lewisville YMCA will start a Senior Center at the Unity Building in Highland Village starting in March of 2004. Go to "www.teencenter.info" for more information. If you would like to receive Highland Village Happenings by email write to us at "hvhappenings@highlandvillage.info" Note that Highland Village has 486 seniors, The Colony has 769. Have a close look at the overcrowding in a 4,000 square foot facility in the The Colony! Most popular sections of the center are the computer room and library! Elderly population needs room to playCity-provided facilities having a hard time keeping up with growth 08/11/2002
Ron Czarny of The Colony says the city's senior center is so cramped that
people waiting to use computers often spill out into the hallway, blocking the
bathroom door.
"Space is a little too tight to do anything," said Mr. Czarny, 67,
who helps coordinate the center's computer club. "We definitely have a
space problem up there." The Colony's senior center is one of several facing a space crunch in
southern Denton County. Lewisville officials said they plan to expand their
senior center, and Flower Mound will dedicate its first space for seniors in its
proposed community center. Many communities have focused lately on the needs of the growing youth
population, but census figures also show a jump in the senior set. In Lewisville, for example, the population over 65 years old has increased
from 2,074 in 1990, to 3,311 in 2000. That same group in The Colony and Flower
Mound has increased at a greater rate, jumping 92 percent and 208 percent,
respectively. Lewisville's 5-year-old senior center on Valley Parkway is a tight fit on
some occasions, said director Melinda Lambert. "We've had to learn to do a lot of shuffling," she said.
"There are days when we're full and we couldn't squeeze another person in
here." During the busiest days, up to 170 people pass through its doors, Ms. Lambert
said. Lewisville's senior center was built for about $1 million from a 1993 bond
program, said parks and recreation director Fred Herring. Verlee Arnhold of
Flower Mound said she goes there to play bunko and other card games. She moved
to the area two years ago after her husband died. "I was so desperately lonely because I had never been alone," said
Ms. Arnhold, 65. "They were all so friendly. It's been my lifesaver." Mr. Herring said the city will look at adding on to the center in the next
four or five years, possibly adding a large meeting room and more classrooms to
accommodate future growth. The project could be funded by the 4B sales tax increase, if Lewisville
voters pass the measure on Sept. 14. The proposal calls for a quarter-cent
increase in sales tax to pay for parks and library projects. The special tax can
be used to pay for improvements or projects in nine specific areas, including
tourism and entertainment, parks and other public spaces. The Colony's Dick Weaver Senior Center is struggling to keep up with the
increasing demand, senior center director Allyson Sprinkle said. The center,
located on Main Street, sees more than 1,000 visitors a month, she said. The
building – between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet, according to parks and
recreation officials – has one large meeting room, a computer lab and a small
library. "We've had some growing pains," Ms. Sprinkle said. "Since
we've grown, there's a need for recreational type equipment, like a pool table,
or other recreational activities as opposed to sitting and playing
dominoes." The center offers the computer club, covered dish dinners, overnight trips,
games and other recreational activities. The Colony resident Sue Walden, 70, said she goes to the center occasionally
but finds some events too crowded. "When we have the covered dish dinners, you can hardly get away from the
table behind you because there's not enough space," she said. Ms. Sprinkle said many seniors favor moving the center to the larger, vacant
library building at 5151 N. Colony Blvd. The building is currently used by the
city's arts groups. A city committee formed to look into potential uses for the building hasn't
made a recommendation yet, said The Colony spokeswoman Diane Baxter. Highland Village does not have a senior center. Community leaders have
discussed the need for a community center but haven't directly addressed senior
needs. Flower Mound, which has seen the greatest senior population growth of the
three communities, does not have a senior center. But officials said they want
to have senior programming in place by 2007, with the construction of a
community activity center next to Gerault Park. Voters approved a $25.1 million
bond election in February that included spending $6.95 million on the center. Bart Stevenson, executive director of community services, said the center
would have space for seniors, a multipurpose gym, a teen area, meeting and
program rooms, a small fitness area and an outdoor skate park. Mr. Stevenson said local senior citizens' input led to the decision to give
the group its own area. Jacqueline Ponder, 67, of Lewisville said she thinks senior centers are
important. She often plays bridge at the Lewisville senior center. "You've been through everything that's hard in life," she said.
"Here, you do exercises, you do crafts – but more importantly, you find a
community." E-mail ltellez@dallasnews.com or
call 972-436-5551, ex. 2001. If you would like to receive Highland Village Happenings by email write to us at "hvhappenings@highlandvillage.info" |
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