ENGLEWOOD —Englewood is implementing admission fees for Malley Senior Recreation Center for the first time in its history, but most of its users aren’t complaining.
“My take on it is, why … didn’t we do it long ago?” said Bruce Meyer, 73, a member of the Malley Senior Recreation Center Advisory Committee. “To me, what I was struck with when I first got to where I knew what was going on here — I was amazed by the city to have the fortitude to make Malley happen.”
Joe Sack, recreation manager for the city, said Englewood has been able to make Malley happen through support from council, subsidies from Silver Sneakers and donations, but that in the past five years donations have decreased. Utility and other operating expenses are going up, as well.
“We don’t really have any revenue that comes in to offset the facility, and we looked at ways of being able to do that. In our research, there’s not another senior center like ours in the state of Colorado that’s not charging an admission fee,” Sack said.
The fees will be $39 for an annual pass for residents or $43 for non-residents, or a daily $2 drop-in rate for residents and $4 for non-residents. The fees will go into effect Dec. 1; the annual passes will be offered starting Nov. 1.
The Malley center is open to anyone 55 and older and provides a fitness center, places to play cards, numerous classes, a computer lab, a gym to play games like pickleball and table tennis and trips to places like Central City. It was established in 1977 as part of an urging by the federal government to do something positive for communities to celebrate the bicentennial.
“I am more than willing for the fees they’re asking,” said Rida Walsh, 89, who uses the center three times a week. “A lot of these people probably spend more going up to Central City than they would here. It’s no big deal, I’m glad to pay it, they offer a lot.”
Sack said the center will work with seniors not able to pay to find grants or scholarships, but most of the seniors he’s heard from think the fees are fair.
Some seniors “really believe we should’ve done this a long time ago (although) some are concerned about maybe some of our members not being able to afford it,” said Bobbi Oxford, 72, who serves on the Malley Advisory Committee and chairs the Malley Trust Fund Committee. “But there’s other committees who can deal with that, so they can still come. We want them here — it’s something for their health, it’s a great socialization area for them and place to learn.”
Oxford predicts a slight drop in users for the first year until those users realize what a bargain Malley offers.
Englewood District 1 Councilman Joe Jefferson said it’s unfortunate the city has to charge any fees for seniors, but that it’s become a necessity. Four years ago the center expanded its hours and council has continued to approve funding for that. The center has an annual budget of about $300,000.
“We’ve got a large and growing senior population here in Englewood, and we need to make sure to take care of these people and make sure they’ve got the services that they need,” Jefferson said.
Twyla Boe, 88, of Denver, has been coming to the center for the last few years to play bridge with her friends and is willing to pay the non-resident annual rate.
“I think it’s fair,” Boe said. “I think you’ve got to have some money to operate, and they’ve got a good facility.”
Clayton Woullard: 303-954-2953, cwoullard@denverpost.com or
