Battle Ground Senior Citizens Inc. (BGSC) President Sharon Wodtke told The Reflector she was cautiously optimistic a month before the remodeled Battle Ground Senior Center’s unveiling.
On Monday, June 16, standing inside the expanded and modernized building, Wodtke shared her thoughts in one word.
“The verdict is ‘extraordinary,’” she said. “Exceeded all my expectations.”
The City of Battle Ground and BGSC marked a major milestone on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly renovated Battle Ground Senior Center. Seniors will officially return to the updated facility in early July.
The city council approved the $565,264 project on Jan. 6, 2024, after securing a $300,000 grant from the Washington Department of Commerce. Renovations included asbestos abatement, upgraded bathrooms and kitchen, a covered patio, new storage areas, window replacements and a modern HVAC system.
“This newly remodeled senior center reflects our city’s commitment to creating functional and vibrant spaces for every generation,” Mayor Troy McCoy said during the ceremony.
For Wodtke, the covered patio was a major highlight. The outdoor area was inaccessible prior to the remodel.
“Oh my goodness gracious. Didn’t we just double our space?” she said. “That was probably the most significant thing I can think of.”
The original building, completed in 1982, had received only minor updates in decades past. Wodtke said the kitchen, over 50 years old, lacked certification and could no longer support the group’s growing activities. The group also struggled with space limitations and constant rearranging of tables and chairs.
“We now have a certified kitchen, we have storage, we have double the space … We’re modern, we’re 21st century now,” Wodtke laughed.
WiFi connectivity, a 65-inch smart TV and new multi-use rooms allow for expanded programming, including educational presentations, club meetings, and social events. Wodtke said the upgrade will provide more opportunities for educational workshops.
Wodtke said the upgrade will provide more opportunities for educational workshops.
“This gives us the ability to bring in presentations, from the IRS, from SHIBA, or the assessor’s office,” she said. “We’re all about socializing and education.”
One of the center’s most anticipated returns is the EnhanceFitness program, run by the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities of Southwest Washington. Previously displaced to Brush Prairie during the pandemic due to space and rent limitations, the program will now run weekly sessions in both locations.
More room also means BGSC’s Happy Stitchers group, which sews items for veterans and neonatal units, no longer has to haul equipment into tight quarters.
“They literally lug in once a month all their sewing machines, all their ironing boards,” Wodtke said. “Now they will have the space to do that.”
Final details, including kitchen counters are still being installed, but BGSC expects to receive full access in the first week of July.
