Thursday, April 25, 2024

Elizabeth considers senior center

Town officials release survey to gauge interest in community

SHUTTERSTOCK

Posted Monday, September 19, 2022 1:55 pm

Chancy J. Gatlin-Anderson
Special to Colorado Community Media

For years, some Elizabeth locals have expressed their desires for a senior center, arguing that there are no facilities available for the aging population of Elbert County.

Recently Elizabeth officials have been working with the University of Colorado Denver to gauge the need for and interest in a senior center for the people of Elizabeth and surrounding parts of Elbert County. They have released a survey to gather data.

According to the survey website, the primary users for this project would be Elizabeth residents over the age of 50. However, it has the potential to engage various age groups. Unlike a residential facility, this project would be used by a variety of community members.

The current list of proposed amenities includes:

• Great hall/banquet room/event space

• Lounge/smaller gathering space

• Telehealth office

• Game room

• Kitchen for Meals on Wheels preparation

• Teaching kitchen

• Outdoor patio

• Pickleball courts

• Gardens

• Computer lab

The survey takes three to four minutes to complete and asks questions about interest in particular activities. The majority of questions are in a “choose all that apply” format. The survey also asks basic demographic questions including age range and residing distance from the Elizabeth Safeway.

“Elbert County and the town have a growing senior population. There really isn’t a place for them out here,” said Michelle Oeser, Elizabeth clerk and administration services director. “It would be good to have a place with an active senior approach, more of their own place. We do want anyone in the county, regardless of age, to be able to use it though.”

The Town of Elizabeth received a $5,000 grant through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to facilitate the planning of the project. Other funding for the potential space will come from grants and town savings. There is no plan to raise taxes on town residents.

Currently there is no designated location for the potential senior facility. Based on survey results and focused community meetings, the planning committee will determine how much space the facility should need. From there, a location will be set.

“We’ve been working with CU as well as leaders from local authorities like the health department to make this work,” said Oeser. “It would be great for everyone.”

The Town of Elizabeth and community planners from CU Denver will be holding several community outreach meetings. These will be scheduled after receiving the results of the survey.

“A senior center in Elizabeth would be great, especially if it serves greater Elbert County,” said Bruce Hicks, an Elizabeth-based senior. “The kinds of things mentioned in the survey would be welcomed, I think. I hope the survey shows real interest. I have seen other senior centers and they did a terrific job of serving that segment of the community.”

The survey must be completed by Sept. 23.

To take the survey, visit tinyurl.com/Elizsensurvey.

To stay up to date on upcoming meetings, please watch for announcements on Town of Elizabeth newsletters and the website at townofelizabeth.org. To receive email updates, visit townofelizabeth.org/newsletter/subscriptions.

Keywords

Elizabeth, Elbert County, Colorado, senior center

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Town officials release survey to gauge interest in community

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