An uptick in the number of senior citizens participating in Friendswood’s senior programming has led city leaders to call the city’s existing activity building outdated, overcrowded and unsafe.
The details
Friendswood City Council, at its Oct. 6 meeting, was briefed by the city’s Senior Citizens Advisory Committee on the challenges the city has faced in accommodating a larger influx of senior residents to Friendswood’s senior program.
Currently, the program meets in the Friendswood Activity Building, built in 1972 and which formerly served as the city’s library, according to the city’s website.
Between 2024 and 2026, active membership jumped 35%, an increase Assistant Director of Recreation Michael Boyett said was fueled partly by Galveston County’s decision to close its Dickinson center in September and direct seniors to Friendswood’s program.
Digging deeper
Seniors now park on the grass or street as the center’s parking lots are regularly full, which has impeded access for first responders, Senior Program Manager Shadey Caraveo-Saldaña said at the meeting.
A recent fire drill exposed that the participant check-in system is no longer reliable, which puts seniors at risk during emergencies because staff can’t maintain an accurate headcount for the day, Caraveo-Saldaña said.
Because of the volume of seniors, limited storage forces guests to place personal belongings on the floor, creating tripping hazards for seniors using canes and walkers, Caraveo-Saldaña said.
"Space management has become a daily challenge,” Caraveo-Saldaña said. “It’s much like a game of Tetris, requiring staff to continually rearrange rooms, equipment and storage areas every few hours to accommodate activities while maintaining accessibility and safety for both participants and staff."
Quote of note
“It says a lot about a community … the way they treat their older people, their senior citizens and their children,” council member Trish Hanks said at the meeting.
Looking ahead
Council member Michael Ross asked the committee to continue to advocate for a dedicated senior activity center in upcoming municipal bond discussions.
In June, City Council considered including a new recreation center, which could cost up to $47 million in a proposed bond package, but ultimately decided not to include it.
Later in August, City Council voted not to put that bond package on the November ballot, but instead to reconsider calling a bond election in May, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
