Throughout September, the Highlands Ranch Senior Center will be celebrating Healthy Aging and National Senior Center Month by expanding their fall programs.

All month, the senior center will be hosting a variety of activities, classes and socializing events to help older residents get a sneak peek of what the senior center will have to offer when fully open next year. 

Beginning in August, the senior center started offering inaugural memberships, which will be available up until the center officially opens. 

“We’re close to 300 people who have signed up within the first month,” said Jill Hall, senior activities manager for the senior center. 

However, while people have joined as members, Hall said they are struggling to get those individuals to enroll in classes.  

Classes and activities are available at Mountainview Community Christian Church, located at 40 E Highlands Ranch Pkwy, the Highlands Ranch library located at 9292 S Ridgeline Blvd and other locations around the community.

Fall registration is open for some of the new fall programs as classes start Sept. 11. 

“We surveyed them and these are all the programs that they said they wanted to participate in,” said Hall. 

In the past, programs used to be education-focused and now they are shifting to fitness and art. Other classes include a rhythm and dance class, various art classes and a gardening class. 

Individuals with Silver Sneakers and Renew Active memberships may receive discounts on fitness classes. 

Throughout September, the senior center will be offering free programs like trail walks and lunch, Nia Aerobic Dance, Intro to Pickleball and Bocce Ball in addition to educational classes such as Medicare 101 and The Longevity Diet. 

Details for the free programs can be found under the Healthy Aging Month section on the registration page. All descriptions of the classes, including the time and place can also be found on the registration page. 

“We’ve got programs ongoing,” said Jodie McCann, health and resource coordinator. "I think just [they] aren’t aware that these new programs are out there.”

Hall said the senior center hopes to expand their programs in January to offer a chair yoga class and a wine and chocolate class, among others.

Sherry Eppers, community relations manager for the Highlands Ranch Metro District said this is an exciting time for people 55 years and older in the community. 

“Being able to meet others at the same stage in life and with potentially similar interests is a great benefit of these programs as well,” said Eppers. 

In addition, Nov. 4 is the community’s annual Older Adult Health and Resource Fair, a free event where residents can talk to services providers, get screened and receive immunizations shots from 9 a.m. to noon at Eastridge Recreation Center. 

Registration is required for all programs and can be done at highlandsranch.org/signmeup and clicking on the senior center box. 

If you are having trouble registering, call 303-791-2416. 

Located on the south side of Highlands Ranch Parkway and east of Broadway, the center is anticipated to open in March 2024, according to the metro district website.