New Florence Senior Activity Center opens

FLORENCE, Ky. - The new Florence Senior Activity Center officially opened Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought Gov. Steve Beshear and other officials to new 8,700 square-foot facility.

“The new Florence Senior Activity Center will provide a much-needed, permanent facility in the community for seniors to access educational, recreational and nutritional resources to increase their overall quality of life,” the governor said in prepared remarks issued by office.

The $3 million facility is located at 7341 U.S. 42 on the site of the former Florence City Building. It includes a state-of-the art geo-thermal heating and cooling system making the facility one of the “greenest” in the area, a nurse’s station, kitchen, computer lab, reading center and large open spaces for dances and other group activities.

Senior Services of Northern Kentucky will operate the facility which is owned by the city of Florence. It currently operates 10 senior centers in the eight Northern Kentucky counties provide nutrition, social, physical fitness and education opportunities for seniors.

In May 2010, the governor presented Florence with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist with construction of the new center. Those funds supplemented an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and funding from the city of Florence.

The new facility is located in downtown Florence with nearby availability of public transportation, municipal buildings and other important services to make it more accessible to the area’s senior citizens.

“The Florence Senior Activity Center will create an atmosphere of support, with the goal of offering the highest quality of life and community services to all of our residents,” said Florence Mayor Diane Whalen in a release.

Ken Rechtin, interim executive director of Senior Services of Northern Kentucky, called the new center “an amazing asset for the community.”

“Today’s seniors are interested in pursuing active lives and this center provides opportunities for engaged living,” Rechtin said.