Senior center hosts grand opening

After 10 years of planning and several months of construction the Hillcrest Senior Center hosted its grand opening on Thursday.

The entire project cost $8.9 million to get to completion. Senior Service Director Barbara Riggan said the plan and design of the senior center started in 2014.

"It's overwhelming. I'm just so happy that we're able to provide this for the city and I'm ready to continue working towards more activities and programs for our community," Riggan said.

Riggan said the city received their largest portion of the funds in 2020 for $4.7 million from Aging Service's capital outlay. A community development block grant for $750,000 was added. The 2022 legislative session saw $1.3 million added along with a "reauthorization" amount of $750,000.

The previous friendship senior center was at 1704 East Seventh St. and wasn't big enough for staff and visiting seniors.

"It was a very small facility, the kitchen staff was working shoulder to shoulder trying to get meals out to seniors," Riggan said.

Riggan said the city was simply "outgrowing the facility" and there were several lasting repairs that needed to be done.

The new facility is about 16,000 square feet, the old senior center was about 12,000 square feet Riggan said.

Riggan said it is still undetermined what the city will do with the old facility.

The new facility will host a multitude of events and activities for local seniors to partake such as bingo, billiards, dancing and so forth.

"I've done it all for the seniors. I have always had a heart for the seniors," Riggan said.

Mayor Mike Morris expressed his enthusiasm for the new facility at the grand opening. He said this center provides many opportunities in improving the quality of life within Clovis.

"Hillcrest Senior Life Center will be a hub for all kinds of activities for comradery, for fellowship, for learning, for exercise. A place where seniors can connect and engage and thrive. Our seniors have dedicated their lives in building the foundations of this community and it is our duty to ensure that our seniors enjoy their golden years with dignity," Morris said.

For the rest of the grand opening event guests were able to explore the new facility and partake in light refreshments. There was also a live band playing for individuals who wanted to take their excitement to the dance floor.