The senior citizens who partake in activities at Spotsylvania’s Marshall Community Center aren’t thrilled that, starting in January, they’ll no longer have a dedicated gathering space.
The Marshall Center will be taken over by Spotsylvania County Public Schools next year, so the seniors who play pickleball, learn line dances and participate in various arts and crafts will see their diversions spread throughout the county.
Some disgruntled seniors and their family members spoke out about the issue during Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting.
Pamela Lee said the Marshall Center, which is located at 8800 Courthouse Road, became a haven for her when she moved to the county 10 years ago.
Lee said it was “offensive” that the county’s intentions were not widely known until recent weeks, and she said she was ignored by county officials when she asked questions.
“They have separated our senior family,” Lee said. “The poor planning and lack of communication is disheartening. Spotsylvania needs to do better.”
More than 1,300 seniors in the county participated in pickleball at the Marshall Center over the past 10 months, and that program was canceled because of the change.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, the seniors will now gather at the Chancellor Community Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. That’s also when instructors will teach Tai Chi classes to seniors. On Tuesdays, they’ll meet at the Lee Hill Community Center.
The Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging will meet on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Lee Hill Community Center. The Spotsylvania Women’s Club will now meet at the Chancellor Community Center, and the AARP smart driving program will take place at the Todd’s Tavern Community Center.
Those who spoke at the board meeting said the shifting locations could be confusing and a strain on seniors, who are accustomed to one central location. They also questioned whether the smaller community centers will be able to store all the materials needed for senior programs.
They argued the county is being dismissive of the senior community’s needs, while mentioning that some surrounding counties have dedicated spaces for senior centers.
“Having a permanent, dedicated, and thriving senior center should be the county’s focus for the future,” Michelle Gooden said.
Gooden added that senior centers are essential to the overall health and wellness of the elderly population. She said they provide independence and education in addition to the activities. Seniors learn how to use technology, hear about potential scams that target them, and receive a boost in morale.
She noted that when seniors are not isolated at home, others may notice potential health issues, such as a cognitive decline or bruising that could indicate they’ve endured falls while alone.
For their part, county officials said the shift to various smaller locations should not be perceived as a slight to seniors.
Brian Barnes, recreation manager with the parks and recreation department, said the goal is “to ensure these programs continue to operate smoothly and those participating experience minimal disruption.”
“I want to first say the county does take its seniors and its seniors’ needs to heart,” Assistant County Administrator Ben Loveday said. “We’re always open to additional ideas of different programs. I think you’ll be happy to see as we go through this, that staff has been working diligently over the past several months to provide the same level of service — with the exception of pickleball — that the Marshall Center currently provides.”
But those who spoke Tuesday said the fact that county officials have been planning the transition since 2019 doesn’t sit well with them. They said the rollout of the change has been done haphazardly despite several years of preparation.
“This is 2025. What happened to Spotsylvania?” Stephanie Hoster said. “You all have been planning since 2019 to kick us seniors out of the Marshall Center, and we’re just now learning of it and have time to speak of it … We are not a lost society. We pay our taxes. We frequent the businesses.”
The senior center isn’t the only program impacted by the move. Parks and recreation classes and programs will be moved to various school facilities and community centers. Residents who want to rent the Marshall Center are being asked to use alternate venues such as park facilities, schools or other community spaces that may be used for rental purposes.
While Barnes and Loveday provided an update on the use of the Marshall Center, the board took care of other business as well.
It voted 6-0 to send a list of legislative priorities to the local delegation in the General Assembly. Those priorities include requesting that the state provide funds to assist localities with school construction and capital improvements or allow localities to have a referendum for an additional sales tax to fund the projects. Support of school choice, reducing the early voting period, opposing unfunded mandates, taxation and regulation of vape products and increasing penalties for harassment of voters and poll workers are also priorities, among a litany of other issues.
In other business, the board voted 4-2 to approve Cosner’s East, a proposed development with 50 multi-family units and up to 15,000 square feet of non-residential units. Supervisors Lori Hayes of the Lee Hill District, where the property is partially located, and Jacob Lane of the Livingston District voted against the project, which will be located on the east side of Hospital Boulevard at the intersection of Spotsylvania Parkway. Construction is expected to begin within the next two years.
Supervisor Drew Mullins of the Courtland District said apartments “are a four-letter word” in the county, but this one is different because it’s not high-density: most units have one or two bedrooms.
Developer Larry Silver said it’s the first of other similar projects in different states, and he’s anxious to see how it turns out. He said the goal is to create a downtown feel with an inviting atmosphere.
“It’s really built for the convenience of the community, the ones working in the area, living in the area, to have walkability … a coffee shop, boutique types of restaurants,” Silver said … “It’s something the county is going to be proud to drive down Spotsylvania Parkway and see it.”
