Work Session Friday Regarding Proposed Senior Center Expansion

The Garden City Board of Trustees will hold a special work session in public Friday related to the proposed expansion of the senior recreation center on Golf Club Lane.

The session will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Village Hall boardroom.

Trustees have assured seniors that the project is moving forward in a statement released Aug. 13. Last month, several trustees met with Kevin Ocker and the architect to discuss preliminary plans. Based on that meeting, trustees asked the architect to update those plans in order to increase the proposed expansion by an additional 40 feet and modify front access to the building.

These changes would allow for a larger lounge area, a better positioning of the bathrooms, increased storage and a larger kitchen, according to trustees. The architect has also been asked to consider an enhanced patio and outdoor barbecue setup, a built-in generator for emergency service and input from the Recreation Commission and Senior Advisory Group.

There's been much debate about this project, particularly over the last several months as seniors became frustrated with the village's delay in getting the project started.

Trustees said the "divergence of views is the hallmark of an involved and engaged community" and have been considering various options in an attempt to balance both short-term needs and long-term planning.

Mayor John Watras said the board is going through a "vetting process" to see how the revamped center is going to look. Though no final decision has been made, the mayor assured seniors that the board is moving forward with the project and is just going over all the details.