A $350,000 grant from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor was awarded to help fund the construction of the City of North Charleston’s new senior center.
The Dorchester Road Senior Center will be located adjacent to North Charleston Fire Station 5 on land that will be donated to the City by Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. Design work for the facility is currently underway with an estimated opening date in late 2015. The project’s budget is $2,000,000.
It is anticipated that the senior center will open with activities, such as water aerobics, exercise classes, educational workshops, and additional recreational and social opportunities.
The grant funds awarded to North Charleston are part of the State of South Carolina’s Senior Center Permanent Improvement Program, which is administered by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The funds are required to be used for construction projects that assist the efforts of the state’s Area Agencies on Aging, but not for engineering, preplanning, or land acquisitions.
“Over the past few years, the City has made a concerted effort to increase quality of life amenities for all of our residents through the establishment and renovation of many of our athletic and community center facilities,” stated North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey. “While most of these facilities primarily benefit our youth, the establishment of a senior center focuses solely on our residents in their golden years. At a dedicated senior center, we can design and offer programming specific to the well-being of our geriatric population.”
In the grant award letter, Lt. Gov. Glenn F. McConnell wrote, “The senior citizens of South Carolina are a vital concern to me. These Permanent Improvement Program funds are provided so that seniors will have a safe and comfortable setting where they can receive much-needed services while interacting socially with other seniors and local citizens. A vibrant and active senior center should be an intergenerational focal point of the aging community in your area. It is our goal that the services and activities provided by your center will enhance the lives of the elderly in your area and assist them in remaining in their homes for as long as possible.”