County Executive David Crowley Announces Long-Term Temporary Northwest Senior Center Sites
The new locations provide programming that was offered at McGovern Park Senior Center
MILWAUKEE – Today, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services (DAS) are announcing the opening of two new sites for programming previously available at McGovern Senior Center, which closed in August following the historic floods.
Two sites, The Embassy Center and Havenwoods State Forest Nature Center, will host programming and offer social, educational, fitness, and recreational opportunities for older adults on Milwaukee County’s northwest side. Anyone who is 50 years old or over is welcome. Dates and hours of operation for each site are below.
- Embassy Center (3725 N. Sherman Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53216)
- Beginning on Monday, June 29, the hours of operation at this site will be 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Havenwoods State Forest Nature Center (6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, WI 53209)
- Beginning Tuesday, June 23, the hours of operation at this site will be 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“While the closure of the McGovern Senior Center following last year’s historic flooding has been incredibly difficult for the older adults who relied on that space, Milwaukee County remains committed to ensuring they continue to have access to the programs, services, and community connections they deserve,” said County Executive David Crowley. “I am proud we are opening these new locations that will help us maintain critical programming while we work toward a long-term solution that supports healthy aging and improves the quality of life for seniors and older adults on Milwaukee County’s northwest side. I want to thank our partners, staff, and the older adults who have shown patience, creativity, and resilience throughout this transition.”
“While we work to develop a new permanent senior center on the northwest side, this is an excellent solution ensuring seniors who live in the area have access to the programs and social and recreational opportunities they had before,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, DHHS Executive Director. “As we look to the future, we are excited about developing permanent, sustainable community hubs with direction and inspiration from the MKE Hubs Report developed by the Commission on Aging.”
“We look forward to welcoming seniors back to spaces they can call their own and where they can participate in activities and access resources while re-establishing social connections with their friends and neighbors,” said Denise Callaway, Chair, Commission on Aging. “We listened to and worked with the McGovern community to provide priority programming and services at these two locations. The team at Serving Older Adults (SOA) are amazing partners and helped make this a reality.”
County Executive Crowley, DHHS, and DAS are committed to developing a new permanent senior center on the northwest side which will take several years. In the interim, staff convened the Northwest Senior Center Advisory Committee to provide input into a part-time, long-term temporary site for senior center programming in the area. The Advisory Committee began convening in April and included more than 20 former McGovern Participants as well as representatives from DHHS Aging & Disabilities Services (ADS), the Commission on Aging (COA) and Serving Older Adults Southeastern Wisconsin (SOA).
Programming at the new sites will include:
- TOPS, a nutrition/weight loss program
- Stand Up for Your Health, a falls prevention program
- Movie afternoons at Havenwoods
- Coffee Clutch & Conversation
- Cards & Games Social
- Quilting & Sewing Group
- Dance for Fun & Fitness (Gym)
- Bingo
- Walking groups
- Forthcoming programs that will also be added in the near future include Tech Connect (technology training) and Stepping (dance)
Additional open-group programming opportunities such as Bible Study and Book Club, as well as other participant-driven activities, will be established following program launch. Days and times will be determined based on participant interest, attendance patterns, and room availability to ensure maximum participation and engagement.
“I want to sincerely thank our friends and neighbors who advocated for resources for older adults in our community, and especially those residents who volunteered their time to be part of the process. We heard you,” said Felesia Martin, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor, 7th District. “I also want to acknowledge the County team that worked to come up with a plan to serve seniors on the northwest side. Thank you for finding a solution that works for everyone.”
The Select Committee on Senior Centers and Commission on Aging created a vision for the future of Milwaukee County Senior Centers with the MKE HUBS Report. The publishing of the MKE HUBS Report (2024) coincided with the announcement that AARP Wisconsin selected Milwaukee County as a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. More than a dozen Wisconsin cities are already part of the network, but Milwaukee is the first county in Wisconsin to be included.
What’s good for older adults is good for everyone. Currently, there are more than 185,000 older adults in Milwaukee County. Across Milwaukee County and the nation, there is unprecedented growth in the older adult population. It is the vision of Milwaukee County to create innovative and vibrant community spaces, with a holistic approach to an engaged life.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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