Sycamore Senior Center closing despite member protest

Mike Duncan has been helping seniors do their taxes through the AARP Foundation at the Sycamore Senior Center for the last five years.

“It was a great sadness when we heard the senior center was going to be closing. I see the community that develops, the folks that come out to play cards or pool or take classes. I am very saddened. I just think as our population continues to age these types of facilities are absolutely critical,” Duncan said, at a Blue Ash City Council meeting in March.

The tax help will be just one of the multiple services and programs in need of a new home when the Sycamore Senior Center closes its doors for good April 1.

The center has been at 4455 Carver Woods Drive since 2000 and has been operated by Maple Knoll Communities Inc. since 1997.

The center closed because of cuts at Maple Knoll and $2 million in cuts to Medicaid/Medicare per year, Director of Corporate Communications Megan Ulrich said.

“We had 3,500 members and only 1,600 were active on membership dues. Of those only 269 contributed to the annual fund campaigns,” Ulrich said.

Maple Knoll is moving the programs at the center to the Blue Ash Recreation Center, Sharonville Community Center, Springdale Community Center and Maple Knoll Village.

“The reaction of the closing of the Sycamore Senior Center did garnish a variety of responses from Sycamore members, mostly positive, but staff did receive negative comments and behavior from a small number of disappointed members,” Ulrich said.

She added a staff member’s car was keyed, but they are not certain it happened on the Sycamore Senior Center property.

Residents have been concerned about having to pay admission fees at the other centers, Blue Ash resident Earl Ward said.

Sharonville Community Center has a reduced rate for seniors and Ulrich said Blue Ash is working on a reduced rate.

Maple Knoll is a Council On Aging Provider, so it can provide transportation and meals on wheels to those who meet income qualification. If not, the services are offered for a fee.

“Each trip is different. There is a nominal base cost and a per mile charge after that. We work hard to keep our rates low and encourage multiple riders to share costs,” Ulrich said.

Ward said he and many of his neighbors were upset by the short notice residents were given about the center closing. Maple Knoll announced the closing March 1, just a month before the closing date.

The building on Carver Woods Drive was bought by local development company Al. Neyer. The company also recently bought 98 acres of the former Blue Ash Airport, beside Summit Park.

“I know (the senior center) is a little bit challenging because people love the Sycamore Senior Center. It was closing and we found out about it. It is a key for me with regard of what I view as long-term access and really highlighting how Summit Park will come to life off of Carver,” said Dan Ruh, of Al. Neyer.