Senior Center Expansion: $2.5M Project To Bring Gym, Classrooms To South County

EDGEWATER, MD — The South County Senior Activity Center will undergo a multi-million renovation and expansion. Officials announced the news at a groundbreaking ceremony last Thursday. The $2,475,000 project is scheduled to wrap up later this fall.

The Edgewater facility, located at 27 Stepneys Lane, was built in 1991. The site now serves more than 6,800 members.

"Expanding opportunities to enhance the health and wellness of older adults in southern Anne Arundel County is long overdue," County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a press release. “Consistent with my smart growth and redevelopment policies, I’m excited to offer more services and activities to the community within the existing footprint of the building.”

The renovation will:

• Enhance the restrooms
• Repurpose office space into a fitness room
• Convert the entrance into a welcoming reception area

The expansion will add more than 2,000 square feet by building onto an underused concrete patio. This will create three new classrooms for the center's growing membership.

“I am grateful to County Executive Pittman for his investment in senior activity centers,” said Karrisa Kelly, director of the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities. “His support to the senior center network is vital to the health and wellness of this community.”

During construction, the facility's activities will take place in the Main Street at South River Colony shopping center. The address of that temporary site is 3158 Braverton Street. The hours will still be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Edgewater branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library, located at 25 Stepneys Lane, will continue to offer Anne Arundel Community College courses and other programs. The Anne Arundel County Police Department's Southern District station, situated at 35 Stepneys Lane, will host regularly scheduled exercise classes.

Free memberships are available at any of the 8 senior activity centers for residents 55 and up. To learn more about membership and events at these temporary sites, call (410) 222-1927. Anybody who needs accommodations can contact the Department of Aging and Disabilities at (410) 222-4257. TTY users can call via Maryland Relay 7-1-1.

The county said it will protect the nature around the construction site. Builders were told to guard the wetlands and drainage area to the north. The tree line will also remain unchanged, and a notable large red maple tree will stay in place. Crews will repair and replace the disturbed land to its original condition.

These companies will work on the project under the supervision of the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works:

• Construction Contractor: Northpoint Builders,
• Construction Management: KCI Technologies, Inc.
• Engineering Firm: Gannett Flemming, Inc.

For more specifics on the construction, call (410) 222-7582 to speak with Department of Public Works spokesman Matt Diehl.

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