OWENSBORO, Ky. — The Senior Community Center of Owensboro has begun construction on a new 26,800-square-foot facility.

The project, which was announced in 2024 after the city purchased an eight-acre property next to the Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens, will replace the center’s current building, a former school constructed in 1936.

What You Need To Know

  • The Senior Community Center of Owensboro is building a 26,800-square-foot, single-story facility to replace its 1936 building

  • The new center will include a larger auditorium for 300 people, expanded exercise rooms, a dedicated Meals on Wheels area, a chapel and a bigger gift shop

  • The center offers free membership for those 60 and older, providing activities like yoga, tai chi, line dancing and daily lunches for a suggested $1.50 donation

  • The facility will support growing programs and prepare for future generations, with added space and staff to enhance services

David Tucker, executive director of the center, said the new single-story facility, designed specifically for senior activities, will address the limitations of the aging structure, which has served as the senior center since 1982.

“This building will be 90 years old by the time we move out,” Tucker said. “We’re excited about our future in the new building.”

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 18, with Hayden Construction leading the project.

Crews began preparing the site this week, Tucker said, with plans to expand programming and accommodate more older adults.

The new facility will feature a larger auditorium seating up to 300 people, divisible for smaller groups, as well as expanded exercise rooms, a dedicated Meals on Wheels prep area, a chapel, a larger gift shop and an outdoor patio with a half-mile walking path connected to the botanical gardens.

The center currently serves as an activity hub for people 60 years and older, offering free membership and a range of programs, including yoga, tai chi, line dancing and low-impact exercise classes.

It also provides daily lunches for a suggested donation of $1.50, operates the Meals on Wheels program for Daviess County and offers transportation services. Additional activities include card games, pool, crafts and a monthly dance with a live band.

“We’re an activity center, not residential,” Tucker said. “Our mission is to keep seniors healthy, active and able to do what they want as long as they can.”

He emphasized the importance of socialization, noting that the center fosters connections among older adults, with participants ranging from their 60s to their 90s.

Larry Mansfield, a volunteer and frequent participant, praised the center’s role in promoting active lifestyles.

“There’s so much going on, and it’s very busy,” Mansfield said. “Regardless of why people come, they gain something from it.”

He highlighted the center’s impact on combating loneliness and depression, recounting how he encouraged his college-aged granddaughter to volunteer at the center’s gift shop to stay engaged during her summer break.

Mansfield, who enjoys yoga, tai chi and dance classes, looks forward to the new facility’s expanded space and opportunities.

“It’ll be more of the same, but with added programs and more room,” he said, noting the potential for larger events like the center’s public Thursday night dances.

Tucker said the new building will not only enhance current services but also prepare the center for future generations, including baby boomers, Generation X and eventually millennials.

“It’s fulfilling to be among people who love to have fun and share so much wisdom,” he said. “These seniors grab your heart, and you’re hooked.”

The new facility is set to open by the end of 2026.

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