Letter to the Editor – Marlborough COA speaks in support of new Senior Center

To the Editor:

Over the last eleven months our Council on Aging Board has been involved in all of the community and governmental meetings, as well as on the advisory and building committees for the new senior center.? We feel strongly that our presence at Ward Park will be a tremendous asset for our seniors and the Marlborough community at large.? While many attributes make this site location perfect for our new Senior Center, three of the most salient are highlighted below.

1) ACCESS TO GREEN / RECREATION SPACE: This alone makes the Ward Park location not only unique among Senior Centers in Massachusetts, but offers a valuable resource for the center overall.? Having front door access to walking trails and fields as proposed in the park upgrades, will not only provide convenience, but also more opportunities to offer additional recreation and exercise programs, which is vital to ensuring good health as we age.

2) UTILIZING CITY OWNED PROPERTY: The Ward Park location will allow the COA the building space to operate the programs and services that our seniors have come to rely on more efficiently and under one roof while ensuring that taxpayers don's have to foot the bill by purchasing land from a private developer.? This location affords us the ability to construct a facility that will include additional space for future growth needs all in a beautiful park setting.? It is also important to point out, once again, that the proposed new Senior Center will not take up current space utilized for youth sports, playgrounds, wading pool, or basketball and tennis courts that currently exist in the park today.

3) RESTORING WARD PARK: Compromise is often the best means towards achieving a solution. By pairing a new Senior Center with the restoration and upgrading of Ward Park ensures that a currently underused park can reach its full potential as a downtown location that will benefit families of all ages for years to come.

We therefore respectfully urge the City Council to support this project in its entirety so that this vision can be made into reality.

Sincerely,

James Confrey, COA Chairman

Sheila Brecken, COA Vice Chair

Brenda Costa, COA Secretary

COA Board Members ?

Rita Connors

Marie Elwood

Richard Collins

Jeanne McGeough