Bridge isn't a game typically played at Burns Park Elementary School, but it will for the next few weeks. Burns Park is among the sites hosting Ann Arbor Senior Center events while repair work is finished at the senior's damaged facility.
The Senior Center on Baldwin Drive was unexpectedly closed on Friday, August 16th. Workers fixing broken ceiling tiles discovered more significant internal damage in the building, creating a safety concern.
While some senior activities had to be canceled for the duration of repairs, others have been moved to Burns Park Shelter, Cobblestone Farm, and, as senior Diane Bell has learned, Burns Park Elementary."It's a pleasure for me because I went to the school in Kindergarten, first, and second grade, and then back for Junior High, seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. So it's really fun to come back here and see the school," Bell says.
While enjoying a trip down memory lane at Burns Park, Bell would prefer a new Senior Center to returning to a fixed-up version of the current building. That's not in the city's plans right now.
Parks and Recreation Manager Colin Smith does say the department is using the repair work as an opportunity to install some upgrades. That includes adding skylights, insulation, and switching to energy efficient lighting. Smith is uncertain of the total cost of the project at this time.
The Senior Center is expected to reopen in early September: Meantime, you can find a complete list of scheduled events and cancelations online.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
