Newly renovated East Columbia 50+ Center opens, seven times larger than previous center

Mar. 12—By Allana Haynes — ahaynes@baltsun.com

PUBLISHED:March 12, 2024 at 3:24 p.m.| UPDATED:March 12, 2024 at 3:25 p.m.

A crowd of nearly 500 visitors gathered last week to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated East Columbia 50+ Center, which, at 29,000 square feet, is seven times larger than the previous center.

First built in 1994, the center was approximately 3,800 square feet inside the East Columbia Library, according to a county spokesperson.

Plans to renovate and expand the center began in 2014, with construction beginning in December 2021. It was completed shortly before the grand opening March 7.

Maryland Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques joined Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and members of the County Council for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the center, which is in the new East Columbia Campus that also includes the East Columbia Branch Library and East Columbia Park, between Routes 29 and 32 near Broken Land Parkway.

The newly renovated space includes a commercial kitchen, large community meeting spaces and a technology hub for virtual programs; it will include expanded educational programs such as art and language classes and a social day program that will promote community and connection, according to a county news release.

On opening day, a sea of community residents toured the new center. Wandering its hallways, they looked through the classrooms, fitness studios, game room and multipurpose room.

Pearline Atkinson-Stewart, 85, of Columbia, who has lived in the county for more than five decades, initiated the idea of opening a center serving older adults in the community. She said it means a lot to her to see her vision become a reality.

"[Seniors] are really the backbone of the community, and most of us came here as young 30-, 40-year-olds and helped to build the Columbia that you see today," she said. "We are avid volunteers, so we did a lot of things for the love of building the community and one of the things that we wanted to do was to include the senior community, so we really advocated for that."

In 2015, the Department of Community Resources identified the East Columbia 50+ Center as one of the priority projects in its master plan, according to the news release. The department estimates one-third of the county's population is 50 or older as of 2022. An estimated 40% of the county's older adults live in East Columbia.

The total cost of the center is $17.8 million, according to a county spokesperson; of that amount, $1 million was received from a Maryland State Legislative Bond Initiative in fiscal 2022. The county funded $16.8 million of the project, which breaks down to $3.75 million in fiscal 2020, $8.1 million in fiscal 2021 and $4.95 million in fiscal 2022.

"The center stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to ensuring your well-being and happiness," said Ofelia Ott, administrator of Howard County's Office of Aging and Independence. "Let us celebrate a welcoming environment where every older adult feels valued, respected and empowered to live their best lives."

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