Mayor Marcia Leclerc Invites You to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony And Grand Opening of the New Senior Center

east hartford senior center
Photo By Christopher Gardner

East Hartford, CT— Mayor Marcia Leclerc is proud to announce plans for the ceremonial ribbon cutting and official grand opening of the highly anticipated new Senior Center, located at 15 Milbrook Drive. Given the current public health conditions, space limitations and limited parking, the ceremony will be split into two celebratory events.

A ceremonial ribbon cutting will take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 11 AM, followed by the official grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 10:30 AM, which will coincide with the 34th Annual Senior Picnic. The grand opening ceremony is dedicated exclusively to East Hartford seniors, who have patiently waited for their well-deserved facility to open its doors. The Mayor and Senior Services staff look forward to welcoming all seniors on this day to showcase the expanded opportunities made available through this new and modern facility.

“It has been my goal to provide our seniors with a state-of-the-art senior center, offering activities, exercise, creative classes and wellness under one roof, allowing for personal growth of our seniors and providing broad and extensive programs for active living,” said Mayor Leclerc. “I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our many partners, supporters and donors, without whom this project would not have been fully realized.”

East Hartford Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc has been working toward the creation of a modern, state-of-the-art senior center for over 15 years, first as the Founder and President of the Friends of East Hartford Senior Centers, Inc. – a non-profit organization created to raise funds for the realization for the true new senior center—then as a Town Council member and finally as your Mayor.

The $9.9 million project, designed by Christopher Williams of New Haven and constructed by Newfield Construction of Hartford, is complete with beautifully furnished rooms including an art room, game room, covered patio, relaxing lounge areas, group fitness room, weight and cardio machines, a large all-purpose room for games and movies, demonstration kitchen and commercial kitchen, and so much more. While taxpayers contributed roughly 50 percent of the cost of the project, the other half was funded by donations, state funds and grants, with the largest contributions coming from the Friends of East Hartford Seniors, Inc., the State of Connecticut and the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving. Outside of the construction cost, Friends of East Hartford Seniors, Inc. have contributed additional funds to create a technology center, along with the design and equipment necessary to build out and outfit the space within the senior center.

Donations by local businesses, civic groups and personal contributions helped purchase amenities beyond the allocation of funding, including items such as a grand piano, custom pool table, medical and salon rooms, and other small and large equipment and items for programming.

The focus on physical fitness, the use of emerging technology and fine gourmet dining make this facility the epitome of today’s modern senior center.