Ground broken on new senior center

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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Correspondent

Though construction has just started, there is already much excitement over Walpole’s senior center. Members of the community gathered on Monday, October 30 to break ground on the new South Street facility, which will eventually replace the current center on School Street. The new senior center will consist of 13,000 square feet, a gigantic change from the room currently housing senior activities.

Kerri McManama, the director for the Council on Aging, knows that the plans for the new structure will bring a completely new perspective for the community's seniors. "The difference that this new facility will offer the community is profound. Our current center in the cafeteria of the old Stone School at the rear of Town Hall lacks space, privacy, and appropriate acoustics for this population. In our new space, our team will be able to plan multiple programs, services, groups and classes concurrently. Those in the community seeking support will be able to do so in a confidential environment with the dignity they deserve. The difference between the Senior Center now and the new project is almost like comparing two completely different programs."

Needless to say, the town is abuzz with excitement. "I talk with seniors about the new building nearly every day, and with the groundbreaking complete, there is a buzz of excitement," says McManama. "Our bustling and growing ZUMBA program is excited to have a larger space without passerby walking through their class or talking over the music. Our card players will enjoy a more private space for quiet play without being subjected to the noise of the center. Overall, I think they are excited to not feel like they are constantly being reshuffled throughout our one room to make way for the next program of the day."

The new senior center will aim to provide Walpole’s seniors with the holistic attention they will need during their golden years. "The most important piece of our new center is that we will be able to address the needs of this group by concentrating on the needs of the whole senior; privacy to address community resource needs like fuel assistance or grief support, a welcoming place to socialize, a vibrant outdoor space which we know improves health and wellness, activity spaces to house limitless programs, group activities and classes to encourage lifelong learning and a fitness room to keep them active and healthy," says McManama.

"It is this recipe that will enable each senior to utilize the center to address their own needs, explore new interests, share knowledge with one another and allow us to support each of them as age."

The project is planned to be finished by December, 2018.