PHILADELPHIA– April 25, 2017-Mayor Jim Kenney, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation Kathryn Ott Lovell and other City officials joined community leaders and senior citizens to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new facility for the Martin Luther King Older Adult Center in central North Philadelphia. The 10,000 square foot building is located on the corner of 21st Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
“This beautiful new state-of-the-art facility is exactly what the seniors of this community need,” said Commissioner Ott Lovell. “I want to thank all of the staff, architects, contractors and designers involved to make this a reality. I especially want to thank Mayor Kenney, Managing Director DiBerardinis and Council President Clarke for their vision and tenacity in getting us here today.”
The facility features a large lunchroom and commercial kitchen, a billiards room, a multipurpose room, and classrooms for art, fitness and computers. The construction process utilized sustainable practices and materials including an energy-efficient HVAC system and lighting.
The total cost of the project was roughly $4.3 million. Project funders include the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and the Office of Council President Clarke. The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) managed the construction and development of the project. PRA also owns the land, and is transferring it to the Department of Parks & Recreation.
“This center was designed with our seniors in mind,” said Mayor Kenney. “As active citizens that are a part of the fabric of our great City, our seniors deserve a modern and innovative facility. This project is another great example of City agencies working together with the community-from my administration, City Council, PRA, and Department of Parks and Recreation, and North Philadelphia community-we all worked together to make this happen.”
“The wonderful seniors served by the former MLK Older Adult Center were not shy about advocating for this necessary overhaul. They deserve so much credit for this day,” said Council President Clarke. “The new MLK Older Adult Center is truly reflective of the vibrancy and fellowship of this community. I am grateful to our seniors for their persistence and patience, and also thank our partner City agencies for a job well done.”
“With this partnership between PRA and the Department of Parks & Recreation we set a new standard for how we can efficiently build public facilities to improve the quality of life in our communities,” said Gregory Heller, Executive Director of PRA. “We look forward to future partnerships where PRA’s construction professionals lead the way in renovating our recreation centers, parks, playgrounds, and other important civic spaces.”