Representatives of Metro Parks Tacoma and the city of Tacoma plan to meet with the public in December to discuss plans for revising senior services, including closing two senior centers.

The meetings are scheduled for Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. at Beacon Activity Center and Dec. 3 and Dec. 12 at Lighthouse Activity Center, also at 10 a.m.City officials is moving toward converting two senior centers to other uses and transferring their services for older adults to Metro Parks Tacoma.  

The city announced in October that it’s working on a partnership with Metro Parks to expand and enhance services for people 50 and older.The city wants to close the Beacon and Llighthouse centersat the end of 2024 and use the buildings for other purposes. Services offered there through the city would be transferred to Metro Parks.

The following is information about the changes that has been posted online by the city in a question-and-answer format:

Q: Is the City of Tacoma ending its senior services completely?
No, quite the opposite. The City of Tacoma is exploring changes to our senior service program and currently in negotiations with Metro Parks Tacoma to offer more community members more services and program variety at more locations.

The City of Tacoma is committed to pursuing smart, strategic partnerships with other agencies and local jurisdictions that benefit all parties with more cost-effective and higher quality services for our Tacoma-area community members. We believe this partnership with Metro Parks Tacoma will bring significant benefits to all of Tacoma’s senior residents who participate in our programs.


Q: The meal program at my activity center is essential to me—I’m on a fixed income and cannot pay to replace these meals on my own. Are you ending the senior meal program?
Many of the City’s senior clients have expressed just how important the senior meals program is and that they rely heavily on these meals for their nutrition and overall health. While the details of a transition of the senior meal program are still under negotiation, the City is aware of how urgent the need is for so many of our senior clients, and this is a top priority issue in our negotiations with Metro Parks.


Q: I don’t drive—how will I get to one of the new Metro Parks locations?
Again, specifics are still being negotiated, but the issue of transportation and access to the new locations is another topic that is a top concern for many of our seniors. The City is working with Metro Parks on a transition plan for the transportation services that are currently available to seniors who visit the Beacon and Lighthouse activity centers. Seniors who do not drive will also have more transportation options available to them with this proposed partnership—Metro Parks offers senior services at four locations versus the current two, and each Metro Parks facility is more easily accessible via public transportation.


Q: I’m not necessarily interested in scheduled activities and workshops—I go to the City’s activity center because it has space for me and my friends to just socialize and do our own thing. Will the Metro Parks facilities still have space like this for me and my friends?
While the specific details are not known yet, we have heard from many of our seniors that this issue is a priority for them, and we are working to ensure that all of our seniors who currently enjoy services at Beacon and Lighthouse activity centers will feel welcome and comfortable at Metro Parks facilities no matter how they choose to spend their time.


Q: I’m happy with the services and with the City’s activity centers the way they are. Why make these changes at all?
We understand that changes like this to services and programs that Tacoma’s community members rely on for their health and well-being can be difficult to navigate and even a bit scary, especially when some details are still unknown and some questions still unanswered. That said, this partnership proposal will produce significant benefits for the community as well as “more bang for your taxpayer buck.” More of Tacoma’s seniors will be eligible to participate (age 50+), there will be more locations with easier public transportation access, and a much wider variety of activities and programs. Partnering with Metro Parks will be a big net-benefit for the entire Tacoma community.