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Roosevelt Park Pavilion now Gary Midtown Senior Center
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November 10, 2010

BY LISA DENEAL, POST-TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
S enior citizens can call the renovated Roosevelt Park Pavilion in the city's 5th District the Gary Midtown Senior Center, thanks to the NNORC.

Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community is a program that provides services to the elderly who live in a designated section of a town or city.

The program is sponsored by the Gary Community Health Foundation, Indiana National Guard, Northwest Indiana Community Action, the Gary Parks Department and Community Oriented Policing Services (C.O.P.S.).

Terri Martin of the Gary Community Health Foundation said creating an NNORC site in Gary began last spring after research discovered a high number of senior citizens and retirees living in the 5th District.

"At least 60 percent of the residents living here from Harrison to Grant streets are senior citizens," Martin said. "They have lived and worked here all their lives and own their homes and are making ends meet still.

"We wanted to create a center where they can socialize and have needs and concerns met."

Physical changes are being made at the former pavilion. A new kitchen was built, plus offices for representatives of the Indiana National Guard, a Gary C.O.P.S. officer and the center's supervisor, Minnietta Nelson.

Martin said volunteers like electricians Noble Dennie and Bruce Cochran of Electrical Dynamics-2 in Gary and other contractors worked inside and outside the building.

"There's still a lot of work to do, but the center is available to the citizens here," Martin said.

Gary Police Sgt. Marlin Gray said a C.O.P.S. officer will be on site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily to serve as a liaison between the citizens and police.

"Any problems or concerns we need to know about, you can address them to the appointed C.O.P.S. officer," Gray said.

Indiana National Guard Capt. Mike Goin said Guard members will be at the center to serve as mentors to area youth.

"We will talk to them about drug prevention, the importance of education and more," he said.

Retired Army Col. Richard Ligon said there will be a partnership between senior citizens and youth.

Northwest Indiana Community Action donated a stove and refrigerator to the center. Gary Olund, executive director of NICA, said the center will be a designated site for provided meals and activities for seniors.

"The group meal site is funded by the Division of Aging in the Family and Social Services Administration," Olund said.




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