Northport Considering New Standalone Senior Activity Center

NORTHPORT, AL — The City of Northport is mulling the possibility of creating a new Northport Senior Activity Center as a way to better facilitate Focus 50+ and its mission of providing continued services to seniors in the area.

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As part of the initiative, a public engagement meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Northport City Hall from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. The event will serve as an opportunity for residents to hear more about what services would be offered if the center is constructed.

While Focus 50+ offers a wide range of services for seniors, it currently does not have its own facility in Northport to offer programming. Instead, the nonprofit has been primarily renting space at the McAbee Activity Center for its programming.

District 1 Councilwoman Christy Bobo, who has been the driving force behind organizing a public interest meeting, told Patch that Focus 50+ is currently helping more than 100 senior citizens who live in the city limits of Northport.

She explained that many of these seniors require assistance with transportation to dialysis appointments, cancer treatment appointments, social services visits or to pick up needed prescriptions.

"Focus provides these valuable services to our seniors with an ever-increasing population and growth of needs being met," Bobo said. "There are four Tuscaloosa locations for seniors to participate in activities provided by Focus 50+. However, there is not yet one in the Northport area."

Bobo insists that Focus 50+ offers its services to Northport taxpayers and is interested in addressing the need for more permanent programming in Northport.

"Focus 50+ has already expanded services in Northport by sharing partnerships with [the University of Alabama] for computer classes and other programming," she said.

For instance, Bobo went on to say that Focus 50+ is planning to host a free hearing screening at Northport City Hall on Friday, Oct. 21. This event will also feature speech and cognitive skills screening.

What's more, Bobo pointed out that Focus 50+ is currently offering Northport citizens free 8-week computer and phone classes.

"They are also partnering with The City of Northport to offer recreational activities such as BINGO soon," she said. "We are excited that the new Executive Director [Nicole Harshman] at Focus 50+ has taken an active role in listening to the needs of our citizens and jumped in to help add services in Northport as soon as she took on the leadership position."

While there is excitement around current and proposed programming, Bobo said there is still a need for input from citizens.

"We all are looking forward to watching this partnership grow," she said.

City Council President Jeff Hogg also voiced his support for a standalone senior activity center, at a time when the city is considering a new sports tournament facility and water park to expand the amenities for its citizens. With this in mind, he stressed the importance of not overlooking Northport's older citizens.

"By partnering with Focus 50+ we are encouraging our citizens to stay or become active by showing our commitment to all ages within our community," he said. "We feel this discussion will spark a positive initiative as we continue to grow Northport in a positive way."

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