An October task force report found more services and programs are needed to meet the demands of Pflugerville’s fastest-growing age demographic, senior citizens.

From 2000 to 2013, the number of Pflugerville residents age 65 and older increased by 532 percent. During the same time the 25- to 44-year-old age bracket increased 394 percent, according to Texas social services network Community Advancement Network.

With that growth has come a higher demand for senior resources, such as transportation services, recreational programs and caregiver support, said Joyce Lauck, executive director of senior services organization AGE of Central Texas.

“We have had increasing inquiries [about senior services] from the Pflugerville area,” Lauck said. “It’s a very desirable community, and it’s not a secret anymore so more people are starting to move there, and that changes the needs really quickly.”

In January, Pflugerville appointed a special task force to assess the needs of the city’s senior community and make recommendations to City Council. At an October city council meeting, the Senior Advisory Task Force presented its recommendations, which included requests for a new senior center, more recreational programs, group trips and additional services such as transportation.

Currently, Pflugerville seniors utilize the city’s recreation center off Immanuel Road or meet at the Pflugerville Public Library but don’t have their own dedicated space.

Rodney Blackburn, senior advisory task force chairman, said a senior center and additional programming will not only address current community needs, but also increase Pflugerville’s value and desirability. 

“It makes the city more attractive to people moving here, knowing they can live and their children can go to school and they can grow old here,” he said.

City Manager Brandon Wade said city staff will create an implementation plan based off the task force’s recommendations and may even introduce a quarterly report to update council on senior services.

One step the city took to better meet the needs of its senior population was hiring Michelle Richardson as Pflugerville’s first full-time senior services coordinator in July.

Richardson, who previously organized senior services for the city of Austin, said she plans to develop a senior fitness program, add new classes such as hiking and Tai Chi, and increase the number of senior trips.

“My background is very [centered around] the outdoors and environmental education, so I love to incorporate that into the senior programming,” she said. “[These types of programs] have been pretty successful because people like to get out in nature and experience new places.”

The city is also planning $40,000 in accessibility improvements for seniors and disabled residents at the Pflugerville Recreation Center, Planning Director Emily Barron said.

The proposed renovations include a new sidewalk and wheelchair-accessible ramp as well as the addition of handicap parking spaces to be completed next spring, she said.