Fairfax County officials on Aug. 5 formally opened the Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults, featuring more than 8,000 square feet of accessible space for a variety of programs.
Located in a renovated former retail space, the facility at 7541 Huntsman Blvd in Springfield aims to support older adults (ages 50+) through wellness, connection and lifelong learning, said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.
“This new center is a powerful example of what we can achieve through partnership and community investment,” McKay said in a recent newsletter to constituents. “It reflects our commitment to building a Fairfax County where every resident, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to thrive.”
Programming will run the gamut from Zumba and tai chi to ukulele classes and tabletop games. Several classroom spaces will be used for enrichment opportunities.
The facility is part of a partnership between the county government and the nonprofit ServiceSource. It will serve as the permanent home of the Burke-West Springfield Center Without Walls, which operated for nearly two decades without a dedicated facility.
Center Without Walls is a partnership between the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and a local community or volunteer group, offering activities for older adults outside of the county’s designated senior centers. Fairfax County still has a Center Without Walls program in Great Falls.
Representatives from NCS and the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) took part in the Burke-Springfield center’s opening.
Located in the Huntsman Square strip mall, the center offers plentiful parking.
Programs and activities at the facility are open to age-eligible residents holding an NCS community-center membership. Membership is free for Fairfax County residents, although some instructor-led classes may require a fee.
ServiceSource, which is partnering on the initiative, works to build communities where individuals of all abilities can thrive and contribute, its website says.
The organization supports more than 35,000 individuals annually through both programming and job opportunities, including 800 currently in the local area.
