RENSSELAER COUNTY UNVEILS IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVED AND EXPANDED EDWARD SWARTZ SENIOR CENTER IN SCHODACK, COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE MCLAUGHLIN ANNOUNCES
SWARTZ CENTER IS FOURTH SENIOR CENTER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AFTER COMPLETION OF THREE NEW COUNTY SENIOR CENTERS IN TROY, HOOSICK FALLS AND EAST GREENBUSH-RENSSELAER
Rensselaer County unveiled major improvements and expansions to the Edward Swartz Senior Center during a ribbon-cutting attended by residents and elected officials on Tuesday, County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced.
The improvements to the Swartz center in Schodack are the fourth major senior center undertaken by the county with McLaughlin as County Executive, along with other improvements to services supporting seniors.
“We are very proud of the improvements to the Swartz senior center, as we are proud of the improvements to all of our senior centers. Thanks to this work, Rensselaer County has a network of senior centers that are among the finest in the nation,” said McLaughlin.
“These are historic and important improvements that transform our network of county senior centers into state-of-the-art, safe and accessible places that will serve seniors for generations to come,” added McLaughlin.
The Swartz senior center renovations expanded the meeting and dining areas at the facility, added an exercise room and a theater, created easier and safer access, larger kitchen with expanded capacity, updated technology and sound system and other new and advanced features.
Entrances to the senior center are more accessible and safer, with lines of sight from the center to the large parking area. Furniture has been updated and is more accessible to seniors of all capabilities. The exterior and grounds were also updated.
“These are major improvements that make the center more accessible, comfortable and unique for our seniors. Seniors can come to the Swartz center to get a meal, meet friends, work out, watch a movie and a whole host of other activities,” McLaughlin added.
With McLaughlin as County Executive, the county opened three new senior centers during an 18-month period, including centers in downtown Troy, Hoosick Falls and East Greenbush-Rensselaer. The county also operates a senior center in Grafton.
The Swartz senior center was opened in the late 1990s and was previously the only county building originally constructed to serve as a senior center. The facility was named in honor of the late Edward Swartz of Schodack, who was a prime supporter of the project as Vice Chair of the Legislature. He passed away in 2001.
The improvements to the Swartz senior center total $3.7 million. Work on improving and expanding the center started during the last days of 2024, totaling just over seven months.
While construction was ongoing, seniors primarily visited the East Greenbush-Rensselaer senior center, with Schodack center staff also assisting at that center.
Rensselaer County is unique from other counties, with the county directly providing services at a county-managed network of senior centers. Seniors can come to senior centers in the county for meals, activities, meetings, exercise, games, special productions and other presentations. The senior centers also serve as a base of operations for the counties home-delivered meals program.