Holland, Springfield Township To Explore Senior Center Expansion
BY KELLY J. KACZALA — MIRROR REPORTER
Holland Mayor Mike Yunker proposed at the January 3 village council meeting expanding the senior center, where seniors meet once per week in the Lodge at Strawberry Acres Park.
“I would like to work with the board of trustees of Springfield Township to offer a full-time senior center to our seniors,” Yunker said to council.
Currently, an average of 50 seniors, mostly from Holland, meet every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the lodge and engage in line dancing, Wii bowling, Pokeno, board games, cards, and other activities, he said.
“They also receive a nutritional lunch provided by the Lucas County Nutrition Program at minimal cost,” he said. “This has been a most successful program that has provided these seniors with some friendly entertainment while being able to interact with like-minded seniors, which improves their quality of life.”
Yunker said he wants to explore expanding the center to all Holland/Springfield Township seniors.
“I would like to establish and provide accommodations to do these activities. We’d also have an employee as a director to coordinate activities,” he added.
He said he is thinking about renovating and enlarging the community building as a dedicated senior center.
“It would better accommodate the amount of seniors in both communities and would be a comfortable location for all their activities. It would be less expensive than constructing a new building,” he said.
Yunker’s proposal calls for seniors to meet daily for meals, entertainment and participation in activities.
“Each week, we have to bring out all the senior stuff in the lodge and when we’re done we put it all away. If we have a building dedicated to a senior center, it would be scheduled Monday through Friday,” he said after the meeting. “By having its own building and structure, it gives seniors the ability to come in whenever they want.”
An expanded center would also draw a larger crowd, Yunker said.
“We get some township seniors and seniors in Toledo, but mostly Holland seniors come to the lodge each week,” he said.
Yunker said as people get older, they don’t have the opportunity to mingle with people their own age.
“When you get to a certain age, you don’t have a structured life. With the senior center, they can get out and participate in activities,” he said. “They love to do it, but don’t have a means to accomplish it. Once it gets established, it’ll run on its own.”
Yunker said he’s looked at senior centers in other communities to get ideas for the senior center in Holland.
“I think it’s important to provide opportunity and activities for our seniors,” he said. “They are at a point in their lives where they still enjoy games and friendships, but may not have the means to coordinate this ability.
“So, this is where we come in. We establish this opportunity by providing them a facility and the activity for them to congregate and enjoy one another’s company.”
He said costs and funding sources still have to be determined.
Yunker told council that he would like to meet with Springfield Township trustees and form a committee to discuss his proposal.
“I will be asking the Springfield board of trustees for their support in exploring this idea to expand the senior center for both our communities. I would like to form a small committee to develop a plan on how to get this accomplished. We would then present this plan to our council and board,” he said.
He said it makes sense to collaborate with Springfield Township because the two communities already do so much together. He would like to get a committee together in February.
Andy Glenn, chairman of the Springfield Township board of trustees, said township administrator Leslie Kohli would represent the township on the committee.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Glenn said of Yunker’s proposal.
“I’m interested to see where the committee comes out on this,” he added. “I think a senior center in this area is drastically lacking. I know the Sylvania Senior Center gets used a ton. It really provides a focal point for seniors to get together in the community.
“I think with our township’s size, in combination with the village’s, especially, we need something like this to serve the senior population. Whatever the committee comes up with, in my opinion, the township should support and help make it a reality.”