Parks staff say senior centers remain in demand; department shifting programming and consolidating sites

Parks Department officials told the Special Committee on Duval DOGE on May 20 that senior centers remain widely used and the department is adjusting services and facilities rather than proposing sweeping closures.

What staff reported: Daryl Joseph of the Parks Department said senior centers have been rethought to provide more active programming and outreach rather than only passive activities. Joseph said the department has reduced the number of senior centers from about 20 a few years ago to 16 currently, and when appropriate the department consolidates smaller nearby locations and provides transportation to larger, better‑used centers.

Services and funding: Auditors’ materials list the senior program funding line (auditors noted $1,700,000 appearing as grant dollars in the packet) and show services at centers that include meals (breakfast three times weekly and lunch five times weekly in most centers), nutrition screening, workshops, group and individual health activities, transportation and shopping assistance. Auditor Kim Taylor noted that the packet statistics were a one‑month sample (April) and are intended to help budget deliberations.

Operational approach: Joseph said the department is trying to expand activities beyond the traditional perception of senior centers and to serve a younger cohort of seniors who want more programming. He said some older combined senior/community center models did not work well in small buildings; where feasible the department consolidates sites and renovates higher‑use centers (he cited recent face‑lifts to Mandarin Senior Center and Lane Wiley as examples).

Ending: The committee received the data as part of broader CIP and operations discussions and will consider senior center needs in the budget process; staff indicated they will continue reviewing utilization and report back as planning continues.