Millcreek Community Center is a new model for multiple services

The Millcreek Community Center is near completion. The center is a new model that will incorporate three Salt Lake County agencies: Active Aging (senior center), Parks and Recreation and a library.

The Millcreek Community Center will serve as a regional facility that will serve many residents in the Millcreek Township, Holladay, Salt Lake City and Murray.

Bev Uipi has been named the new Active Aging Senior Center supervisor.

“Bev will bring great energy to the center,” Library Manager Suzanne Tronier said.

Uipi is a longtime resident of the Millcreek Township. She grew up in the East Mill Creek area and has returned to live and raise her son. Uipi comes from Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon’s office, where she served as his community relations specialist for five years.

“This [senior center] is new for the Millcreek area, even though it has the highest concentration of seniors in Salt Lake County unincorporated areas,” Uipi said.

The senior center will evolve over the first few years and may have a similar look to other county senior centers. It will also have something Uipi feels will be unique to the Millcreek community.

“I will encourage inter-generational activity, along with the parks and recreation services and the library services. I want to engage the entire community, not just seniors,” Uipi said.

The three agencies have been meeting together for the past few months to learn how to work together and how to come together on issues including shared programming.

The library will be 20,000 square feet which is double the square footage of the previous library. It will include more social space for adults and a fireplace. It will also have more computers and a large meeting room. Both the teen and children's areas have expanded services with more books, seating and computers.

The parks and recreation area will house a new walking track and aerobics facility. It will also include many of the same youth programs that the center previously had, like Jr. Jazz, soccer, flag football and T-ball. Senior programs will become available as details are worked out among the agencies.

There will be an on-site cafe for daily senior services which will also be open to the public.

Uipi will meet with the local community councils to share the county's active aging vision as well as seek input on programming. She will attend the Canyon Rim Citizens Association meeting Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 2375 East 3300 South and the Millcreek Community Council Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Millcreek Activity Center, 4405 South 1025 East.

Public open houses will be held at the center on 2266 East Evergreen Avenue, on Feb. 8 and 29 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 9 and 13 at 2 p.m. for community input on programming and other needs. For more information about the meetings, contact Uipi at buipi@slco.org or 1-385-468-3087.