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Davis

Davis, California

Monday, February 17, 2025

Davis Senior Center hosts a grand opening for its new patio space

The new patio includes a steel-framed pavilion, seating options and a heater

 

By RORY CONLON — city@theaggie.org

 

The Davis Senior Center hosted a grand opening ceremony for its new patio, which was funded by local non-profit and community donations, on Jan. 16. 

Deanne Machado, the director of parks and community services for the city of Davis, said the patio has been years in the making. 

“We first received design proposals back in 2016, and there have been many iterations to that design since that time,” Machado said. “We were absolutely thrilled to kick off construction of this project back in June of 2024, and it’s really incredible to see the vast amount of work that was accomplished in such a short time.” 

Machado pointed out several features included in the new patio. 

“It has created a versatile space for gathering in the community, with the concrete patio, the steel pavilion you’re sitting under, the seating areas all around and the heaters [for cold days],” Machado said. “We have catering counters in the back, and while the doors are closed right now, those can open up and provide for the seamless exit and entry into the indoor areas of the center.” 

City of Davis Vice Mayor Donna Neville highlighted the importance of creating community spaces. 

“It’s going to be a wonderful place for public gatherings and to develop a really great sense of community,” Neville said. “It’s really spaces like this that draw us together and enrich and deepen our sense of community, so I’m incredibly excited to see it happen.” 

Neville also reflected on how her late father, who was a member of the senior commission for the city of Davis, made efforts to get the patio constructed. 

“He became one of those people who was really involved in the early days of what would later become this project,” Neville said. “He passed away five years ago, but I know he would be amazed, because I know that the patio would far exceed what he had in mind when [the city] first started talking about how the money would be used. I’m just deeply thankful that it’s come to fruition.” 

The city of Davis, along with several local non-profits, including the George and Lena Valente Foundation, the now-defunct Senior Citizens of Davis (SCD) and the Sunset Rotary Club of Davis, funded construction of the patio. 

Lynn Volkerts runs the George and Lena Valente Foundation, which was founded by her parents in 1978 to provide community services throughout the Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. She thanked the staff of the senior center, as well as Maria Lucchesi, the city of Davis community services supervisor, and Lisa Miller, a member of the senior citizen commission, for their efforts. 

“Lisa [Miller] and Maria [Lucchesi] and the entire staff here have made this home for so many seniors, and I am so full of gratitude for their efforts,” Volkerts said. “Maria, Lisa, you’ve been in my heart since the first donation in 2000. The first time George [Valente] walked into the senior center was in 1999, and the first thing he wanted in place was a TV room for all the seniors because he was an avid TV watcher. CNBC — that was his focus, his life, his investment plan, and that’s what brought us to fruition here today.” 

Elaine Roberts Musser, the legal advisor for the former non-profit Senior Citizens of Davis, said her foundation played a key role in getting the patio built. 

“The reason you have a beautiful patio at the Davis Senior Center is because of the imagination and creativity of the non-profit Senior Citizens of Davis,” Musser said. “At a certain point, [President Margot Loschke] and I both wisely decided to disband SCD for good reason, but it was necessary to decide what to do with the remaining funds of the organization, which were considerable.” 

Loschke and Musser directed the funds toward the outdoor patio. She said that while they first envisioned a modest outdoor space for seniors, she now thinks it can serve many different purposes for the community. 

“Our hope is that this patio can be exploited for many uses, including outdoor tai chi classes, a speaker series we’re working on, intergenerational interactions between seniors and younger folk, perhaps even a wedding or two — who knows?” Musser said. “We hope this ushers in a new era in which the Davis Senior Center becomes more of a community center where any age is welcome to participate and enjoy what it has to offer.” 

 

Written By: Rory Conlon — city@theaggie.org

 

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