By The Signal Editorial Board
It’s weird sometimes how something can be both long-awaited and seem sudden at the same time.
Take, for example, the new Santa Clarita Valley senior center. It’s been under construction since late 2017, so for the past year and a half it’s been on our radar as something that is “out there” on the horizon and, when it finally arrives, it will be a great benefit to the community.
Guess what? “Finally” is now.
The nonprofit Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center announced this past week that a dedication ceremony will be held Wednesday at the new $11.4 million facility, at 27180 Golden Valley Road.
On Friday, the final events will be held and the final meals will be served at the “old” SCV Senior Center, which has served this valley’s seniors very well for approximately 40 years.
Then, on Monday, April 29, operations will shift to the “new” senior center, which will bear a new name that is scheduled to be announced at the dedication ceremony this week.
Just. Like. That.
Right? Well, not really. This has been a long time in the making, and there are numerous volunteers, government leaders and financial donors who deserve so much credit for making the dream of a new senior center become a reality.
A few years ago, community leaders agreed: Our valley has grown, and so has our senior population. And, today’s seniors are more active, for more years, than ever before. The needs of the SCV senior population had outgrown the facility on Market Street in Newhall.
The new 30,000-square-foot senior center has been built with those growing and changing needs in mind. It’s been built on a 2.5-acre site near the intersection of Golden Valley and Newhall Ranch Road, making it more centrally located relative to the valley’s population.
Amenities of the new center include a banquet hall that seats more than 250, a fitness and dance studio, an outdoor cabana with concert seating, six multipurpose rooms and a library. Yes, the new senior center is going to be a hub of activity.
The new center will also continue its programs and services that benefit seniors in need, such as the home delivered meals program for homebound seniors.
The new, modern facility has been built thanks to numerous contributions, including major allocations from Los Angeles County and the city of Santa Clarita, as well as a six-figure contribution from developer FivePoint that was designed to offset the developer fees required for the project.
But, some needs still remain to completely outfit the new center and the organization still hopes to raise $1 million. Contributions can be made by visiting scv-seniorcenter.org.
If you think about it, donating to a facility like this one is not just a contribution to benefit a small segment of the population. It’s something that benefits us all, since every Santa Clarita Valley resident is a potential participant in a senior center program or a recipient of the center’s services at one time or another as we reach our golden years.
We sincerely thank everyone who has made this long-sought community addition become a reality.
