Redmond Neighborhood Blog: Part II: Is the Redmond Senior Center coming to life?

Part Two of a Series on the Redmond Senior Center.

UPDATED, 8/22: On August 10, I published a story on the Redmond Senior Center. The story focused on my 45 minute "snapshot" visit to the Center where I discovered:

abundant, quality active recreation facilities appearing mostly idle or unused e.g. pickleball, billiards, greenhouse gardening, horseshoes, volleyball, boceball, badmitton, croquet and shuffleboard. Four ping pong tables and Wii were in use.
If you are over 49 years of age you qualify as "Senior"! Seniors living outside city limits are welcome.
BONUS: 18 year olds and up may use the faciliites when accompanied by an adult over 49.

As the saying goes, "a fifty year old is now forty and 60 years is now 50"; so the Center facilities should have wider appeal to many of the "younger" residents in our neighborhoods. Unfortunatley, not many citizens know about these family fun game activities. The stigmatism of age further aggravates utilization. I'll report on this

Since posting my August 10 story, the Administration appears eager to activate the community. Last week, Mayor Marchione launched a "First Friday Coffee Chat" informational program at the Center where various city officials will discuss city happenings once a month. Marchione will introduce the first chat program on Friday, 9/4. In addition this month, the city revamped and updated their Redmond Senior Center website page. And, Parks staff presented a review of the copious Senior Center programs to Chair Myers' Council Parks Committee.

The opening monthly Coffee Chat will be held by Mayor Marchione on Friday, September 4, 10-11am at the Redmond Senior Center (8703 160th Ave. NE) in the Fireplace Lounge. Free refreshments are sponsored by The Creekside. The announcement didn't say which age groups were welcome - so the chats are probably for Seniors and 18+ only. Directors from Public Works, Police, and Human Services will give 1st Friday chats monthly. With the Administration now taking active interest the Center, the pickleball, volleyball, and other outdoor recreational facilities may get greater use - especially by passing Sammamish Trail users.

The Administration has a vested interested in keeping the Senior Center vibrant. Doreen Marchione was Redmond's mayor in 1990 when the Senior Center was first built. (Doreen is our Mayor's mother.) In addition, present councilmembers Cole, McCormick, and Vache were in office at the time the Center opened. Councilmember Cole recently recommended seed money to start a "sinking fund" to re-build the Senior Center. Cole considers a new Senior Center building as a "legacy building". The Center's roots grow deep.

Senior Center activities and programs are guided by an 11 member Citizen Advisory Committee. Term limits are two years. If you'd like to participate, call 425-727-7274. Volunteers aged 50-59 are probably scarce and needed. Young adult advisors, too? The Redmond Historical Society plans to attract a younger set. Perhaps they could work together.

FIRST FRIDAY CHAT POSTER: http://docs.google.com/Edit?docid=dftpp8st_2fsccvcff)

ONLINE USER GUIDE TO PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, Dated 2002. Update is needed? http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrec/recreation/seniorsuserguide.aspUPDATED

NEW WEBSITE PAGE ON THE SENIOR CENTER http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrec/recreation/seniors.asp