The area’s 13,000 senior population will reach 36,000 by 2030 as Parker County's growth approaches 328,000 as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex pushes westward.  The PCCOA board of directors, seeing this growth as an opportunity, determined in 2002 that the present Center and location would very soon become unable to serve the county’s senior citizens.  As a result, the directors acquired a new 10-acre location under a 99-year $1/year lease, developed a master plan for a new Center, negotiated sale of the current facility, and began planning a capital campaign to realize their vision of a new $6,600,000 Center with flexible room for current and future services.  A key part of the facility will be an aquatic therapy center to benefit seniors with muscular-skeletal difficulties and persons of all ages needing water therapy for congenital conditions or injury rehabilitation.
 
The driving vision for this extraordinary 37,335 square foot Center is to provide expanded and new programs for senior citizens, their families, and the community for at least the next two decades, and to assure space at the site for future expansion as needed:

For health, nutrition, healing, education, and recreation:

• Aquatic therapy pool in its own wing for exercise in a relatively weightless setting to ease strain on muscles and bone structure for the elderly.
• Exercise room to improve cardiovascular capacity, strength, and physical health.
• Health service space for routine diabetes, blood pressure, prostate cancer, and cholesterol screenings; for immunizations for flu and pneumonia; and for future health and dental clinics.
• Modular work areas for volunteers to call the homebound.
• Separated offices for case managers, staff, and administration to assure privacy in discussions with guests and to improve efficiency in the delivery of services.
• Dividable and flexible classrooms for teaching and activities.
• Dedicated room for computer use and instruction.
• Library and reading area.
• A wide variety of game rooms.
• Large, flexible meeting space for senior events and programs.
• More meal selections with cafeteria-style serving.
• A commercial quality kitchen to prepare Meals-on-Wheels and in-house meals

For family and community:

• Adult day care center to provide much needed relief and support for caregivers.
• Chapel for individual meditation, prayer, and nondenominational use.
• Community boardroom for the Center and use by area organizations or businesses.
• Meeting facilities for community groups up to 400 people

For access, safety, and security:

• Abundant, easy entry parking.
• Wheelchair and handicap accessible doors.
• Multiple handicap accessible restrooms.
• Additional handicap parking.
• An energy efficient design.
• Comprehensive fire suppression system.
• Complete security system, with alarms and nighttime lighting.
• Campus wide security cameras monitored during daily operations.
• Necessary storage space.

The adjoining five acres of the site will be used for outdoor activities in natural settings, including horse shoes, croquet, walking trails, fitness stations, and picnic areas.  Both outdoor physical activity programs, as well as those indoors, are designed to exercise a senior’s heart, lungs, limbs, and circulatory system to promote independent longevity.

To help support the facility’s operating costs, portions of the Center will be available on a fee for use or rental basis to area hospitals and health care professionals, physicians, physical therapists, businesses, or civic organizations.  These services will include the aquatic therapy pool, the community meeting space, and adult day care. 

Operational Plans to Realize the Project

Dorlan Carol Shelton, AIA Architects of Fort Worth, Texas, a firm specializing in facilities for older people, has prepared preliminary construction drawings.  Several Weatherford general construction firms have indicated they will bid on the project when final construction drawings are issued.  Construction will begin upon completion of the capital campaign when funds and pledges are in hand and is expected to be completed within 18 months of groundbreaking.  Assuming two years to complete the campaign, the new Center should be operational by 2011 or before.

The Building Committee and Finance Committee of the board of directors, in addition to executive staff, will oversee construction of the project.

Evaluation of the Project during Development and Completion

Dorlan Carol Shelton, AIA Architects of Fort Worth, Texas, a firm specializing in facilities for older people, has prepared preliminary construction drawings.  Several Weatherford general construction firms have indicated they will bid on the project when final construction drawings are issued.  Construction will begin upon completion of the capital campaign when funds and pledges are in hand and is expected to be completed within 18 months of groundbreaking.  Assuming two years to complete the campaign, the new Center should be operational by 2011 or before.

The Building Committee and Finance Committee of the board of directors, in addition to executive staff, will oversee construction of the project.