GARDEN CITY — Construction is underway to expand a park in Garden City along the Greenbelt.
But sitting on the city-owned property is the Garden City Senior Center, and since the city says they need that land for expansion, the center has to go.
The long-time president at the senior center has known this was coming for a while; she says the center has run its course and the need isn't there like it used to be. But Luana Amidon is upset their driveway and parking lot are being torn up while they're still here, making them feel pushed out.
“My aunt Edith Matthews started it in a house and they were looking for some place," said Amidon. "This is an old barracks building from downfield and it was moved down to 42nd Street as a church. When they started building a new church they gave the building to Edith for the senior center."
"My husband and I come down because this was a dumping ground out here at the time. We come down with equipment and cleaned it up for her to get building moved down here.”
Since the 1980s, the Garden City Senior Center has been a place for seniors to socialize.
“It’s been a second home to me and my grandkids, my kids,” said Amidon. “We would have Bingo and cards and different games, birthday parties, it has been a real fun place.”
But as people moved into nursing homes or passed away...
“It’s been this last two years that we've lost so many people,” she said.
Amidon admits the need for this space has dwindled.
“It’s served its purpose well,” she said.
Amidon wasn't planning on renewing the lease when it's up next May, especially now with the expansion of Heron Park.
“They want us out so they can tear the building down and extend the park out,” said Amidon. "It’s just been recently that they're in a hurry.”
“At some point the building will be removed and the park will extend over to this area,” said Garden City Mayor John Evans. “We are not gonna do anything until they're ready or till the end of the lease.”
This building is owned by Garden City Senior Citizens Inc., but the city owns the ground it sits on and leases it to them for a dollar a year.
“When we're done you're gonna have a much prettier setting here,” said Evans. “There'll be steps down to water's edge, a place where you can take a raft out, an improved and brand new section of Greenbelt path.”
But in the meantime, Amidon says construction is
“Well isn't that a sign: get out? I'm just angry it has to close like this,” said Amidon.
Evans says they're trying to do as much work as they can now so it will be done in the spring.
“We wanted to get bulk of heavy work done while the river was down," said Evans. "There’s no reason encroaching on the center's parking lot and access, tearing up the asphalt not to do the parking lot. They don't have a great parking lot need frankly.”
But this is a theme in Garden City, Amidon says of leaders not helping their seniors.
“They could have helped the seniors instead of rearranging park out there, it just makes you sad,” she said.
Evans says there are restrictions on how the city spends money for entities like the group that owns the building that isn't actually a part of the city.
And once this is gone, he says there won't be a need for another senior center.
Evans says they plan to help the senior center dissolve and sell or donate their assets.