Demand surges for Leander’s new senior center From the cover
Leander Senior Activity Center
The big picture
After more than a decade of planning and advocacy, Leander’s older adults nally have a space to call their own. A $9.8 million city-run Senior Activity Center, located o Municipal Drive, opened in January, o ering space for tness classes, health clinics, a full kitchen, gathering areas and event programming. Previously, the city’s active adult programs—those targeted for residents age 55 and older—were housed at the Leander Activity Center, where older adults had to compete for space during spring break and summer youth camps. Members reported feeling overlooked because youth programs were so popular. “Seniors felt we were pushed to the side,” resident Kathy Bonardi said. Funding for the senior center dates back to bonds
WALKING TRAIL
1 Senior Activity Center courtyard
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2 Senior Activity Center entrance
SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDER COMMUNITY IMPACT
©GOOGLE EARTH
PHOTOS BY GRANT CRAWFORD
“I think it speaks volumes to the community from our council that they set the priority that they wanted to build and open a senior center for the community rst—before they opened up a recreation center,” said Ashlea Boyle, Leander’s parks, recreation and community services director.
approved by voters in 2016 and 2018. After multiple delays, including a lengthy pause spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility broke ground in May 2024. Today, the 11,800-square- foot facility replaces shared programming spaces and re ects the city’s commitment to a demographic that has rapidly expanded.
The why
surge has included families and grandparents moving to the area. “[Leander] is an entirely di erent city,” De’Lisle said. Data on residents age 60-plus shows Leander’s population is evolving. Census and city bench- mark results indicate the older adult population is growing in both number and share, even as the city continues to grow overall across age groups. “Before we opened the new center this January, we had about 540 members,” Boyle said. “Now we are up to 859.”
When plans for the senior center were rst discussed, o cials projected seeing around 150 memberships annually. But that estimate quickly proved too low as the city grew, Boyle said. Within the rst year after the city took over the active adults programs, in 2021, memberships had nearly doubled original projections. “In hindsight, it was the rst sign that there was actually more need for this project than we had realized,” said Christine De’Lisle, former mayor and champion of the initiative. She noted that much of the city’s population
Leander’s older adult population Today, those age 60 and over represent close to 13% of Leander residents today.
15%
10%
9,412 residents 12.7% population
5%
2,553 residents 8.5% population
0%
2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
SOURCE: US CENSUS BUREAU,AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5 YEAR ESTIMATES COMMUNITY IMPACT
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