Over the years there has been a lot of discussion about the pros and cons as
well as the specific characteristics of a community center that we might
eventually have in Lincoln.
Three contributions to The Lincoln Squirrel's "My Turn" in recent weeks have
shaped my thinking about how to vote at Saturday's Special Town Meeting.
They are Ellen Shorb's "How would you use a community center?". Dilla
Tingley's "A Community Center for Lincoln" and David Levington's "How about
Equity for Seniors?"
Ellen's delightful essay encouraged us to imagine
possibilities. The question she posed was not " How would I use a community
center in Lincoln right now?" but rather "How might I have used it when I
first moved to Lincoln with four young children?" and "How might I use it
in the near future? Her lively responses led me to reflect on these same
questions for myself. How might I have used a community center at
different stages in my life? What opportunities could have existed in the
past and what might be available in the future? It is intriguing to
speculate!
Dilla's essay led me to ponder another set of questions. We are
not talking about a senior center. We are talking about a community center
that will serve the whole community, seniors, school children, and everyone
in between. LEAP will be ensconced in the community center as planned but
more than that the building will be accessible to all ages, interest groups,
and organizations in the community in the way that the facilities at Bemis
Hall (much as I treasure them) simply can't accommodate. If you have ever
tried to schedule a discussion group at Bemis or a public meeting with your
state representative, you know the pressure that exists on use of those
spaces.
With an "edge" about seniors being left out, David asks us to
look at the big picture. Given three options to consider, he (and almost
everyone else) writes off the least expensive as being unacceptable, a
structure totally inadequate for addressing the programmatic and
administrative needs of the COA & HS and Parks and Recreation.
He then looks at the tax implications of the remaining two
choices and determines that, from his perspective, the difference is not
large. Why not, he asks, take the step to create a structure that will
serve us well over a long period of time? "Why not?" I ask myself. This
might be an opportunity not to be missed. Who knows when it will come
again.
I would also add another thought. Isolation and loneliness are
widely regarded as significant concerns in contemporary American life.
Across the country approximately 30% of households have only one adult in
residence.
In Lincoln, a significant number of adults live alone. While this may be
especially true for seniors, it is also the case for all age groups. I can
well imagine the benefits of a gathering place where residents can get
together informally, at will, and as need be for casual interactions over a
cup of coffee or planned discussions, activities, or events.
How special to have a place to go without invitation, or pre-arrangements,
or pre-programming. Just turn up! This is my community, my center, and I,
along with everyone else in this community, am welcome. And if it is
beautiful, spacious, and accommodating, so much the better.
--
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