Behind the Times

Seniors and the downtown…

Posted on February 19, 2007 by kraus2686
Filed Under Clinton, Downtown, Noah's posts |

Do most senior citizens in Clinton live and walk downtown?

That seems to be the presumption by those who see a downtown location for a new senior center as a priority. The Council on Aging’s current plan to put one on a municipal parking lot seems to be driven by this need to have a downtown senior center. But is downtown really neccesary? What do you think?

I’ve seen plenty of towns locate senior centers away from the center where they have room to develop a center that fits seniors’ needs and provides adequate and level parking. Let’s not forget that a good portion of Clinton is on a hill. If these elderly folks are leaving their homes and walking downtown from the surrounding neighborhoods, they’re taking on a pretty hazardous trek.

Aren’t most either driving or getting rides to the center as it is? And if that’s the case, why does it need to be downtown? It seems like any plan to locate a center downtown has been fraught with problems. Perhaps it’s time to look a little further.