I stood in awe next to my long-time North Denver friend, Linda, at the rec center front desk. She giggled and bragged as she received her first-ever senior discount, compliments of Denver Parks and Recreation. At age 60 and as a Denver resident, Linda now qualifies for My Denver PRIME, a program that grants her free access to all Denver recreation centers and pools, including hundreds of drop-in fitness classes and clubs.
Linda was delighted by the news and promptly took to lording it over me. “But I have more gray hair than she does,” I quipped to the kind gentleman on the other side of the counter. “Sorry ma’am, she has I.D. to prove it.” “Whatever,” I replied with a chuckle. As I handed him the $5.50 single visit fee, I got one last jab in: “Here you go: my youth tax.”
North Denver’s five city recreation centers offer drop-in classes in a wide range of fitness approaches: cardio and weight training, yoga, tai chi, drum fitness, as well as the entire SilverSneakers® fitness program. There are also clubs and classes in everything from bingo to table tennis to knitting, Mah Jongg, belly dancing, conversational Spanish and more. If you’re open to paying a little extra, join the Thrift Shop Treasure Hunting outing or go out for lunch at Hiro Japanese Buffet. Each recreation center prints a monthly calendar of fitness and wellness activities, special events and trips, clubs and games, and arts and culture activities.
The best way to tap into this free resource is to visit your nearest center, enroll in My Denver PRIME and pick up a copy of the calendar for the month. I’ve spent quite a bit of time at Highland Recreation Center, where the staff of Denver Parks and Recreation’s Active Older Adults program have their offices. This center’s unique focus on older adults makes it well worth the stop in to check it out.
Ashland Recreation
- Center 2475 W. Dunkeld Pl.
- 720-865-0510
- (north of Valdez Elementary School)
Aztlan Recreation Center
- 4435 Navajo St.
- 303-458-4899
- (south of La Casa/Quigg-Newton Health Center)
Highland Recreation Center
- 2880 Osceola St.
- 720-865-0600
- (between Little Sisters of the Poor Mullen Home and Francis Heights)
Rude Recreation Center
- 2855 W. Holden Pl.
- 720-865-0570
- (southeast of Federal Boulevard and West Colfax Avenue)
William Scheitler Recreation Center
- 5031 W. 46th Ave.
- 720-865-0640
- (southwest corner of Berkeley Lake Park)
Wide Range of Bills Impacting Older Coloradans Populate General Assembly Calendar
The Colorado Senior Lobby took to the State Capitol as planned Jan. 27, getting the attention of everyone from Gov. Jared Polis and Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera to the reigning Ms. Colorado Senior America, Lori Adams. There are dozens of bills proposed this legislative session that affect seniors. Below you will find a few highlights.
Of top concern to lawmakers are prescription drug and other health care costs, consumer protections and proposed updates to the senior property tax exemption. Visit leg.colorado.gov to read about bills and share your perspective with legislators. Click on “Watch & Listen” to witness your electeds in action.
Bill affecting seniors (click bill titles to see more info):
SB20-022 | Increase Medical Providers For Senior Citizens
SB20-030 | Consumer Protections For Utility Customers
SB20-033 | Allow Medicaid Buy-in Program After Age 65
SB20-043 | Out-of-network Provider Reimbursement Rate
SB20-049 | Senior Property Tax Exemption Medical Necessity
SB20-093 | Consumer And Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness
SB20-113 | Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment Health Facility License Requirements
SB20-119 | Expand Canadian Prescription Drug Import Program
SB20-148 | Property Tax Exemption Value Adjustments
HB20-1050 | Other Outlet Pharmacies Drug Distribution
HB20-1160 | Drug Price Transparency Insurance Premium Reductions
HB20-1078 | Pharmacy Benefit Management Firm Claims Payments
HB20-1090 | Pharmacies To Provide Prescription Readers
HB20-1101 | Assisted Living Residence Referrals
Kathryn has lived in North Denver since around the time the Mount Carmel High School building was razed and its lot at 3600 Zuni became Anna Marie Sandoval Elementary. She teaches a SilverSneakers fitness class at Highland Senior Recreation Center and facilitates Simplified Pickleball and a Caregiver Support Group for the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter.
Do you have story ideas for The Gray Zone? Email thegrayzone.denvernorthstar@gmail.com. Send tips on neighborhood deals and discounts for older adults to The Gray Zone.
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