As a volunteer greeter, Joan Bell got to see the first smiles and wide eyes as members and friends stepped into the new Palestine Senior Activity Center.
And as she took in the ceremony for the Sept. 15 reopening of the rehabbed center, she thought of the late Rev. Earl and Hazel Lair Abel whose vision for Kansas City seniors saw the center first open over 30 years ago.
“The Reverend Abel and his wife, I know they’re looking down and smiling,” Bell said, “because the whole place looks gorgeous!”
An overflowing crowd had gathered out front of the center for the ribbon cutting, and the Rev. James Watkins, who now is the senior pastor of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church, which the Rev. Abel served, spoke with gratitude that the center at 3325 Prospect Ave. has been revived so fully.
“Here we are!” Watkins said. “Standing strong today over 30 years later.”
He thanked LINC — represented at the podium by its President and CEO, Janet Miles-Bartee, and the LINC Caring Communities Coordinator managing the center, Yolanda Robinson — for its critical role in running the center beginning in 2024 and making its renewed growth and revitalization possible.
“This is a beautiful day,” Watkins said, “because this is for the seniors in our community and in our neighborhoods. This is a great day for Kansas City.”
The crowd stepped past the cut ribbon into the spacious center to see its new, modern kitchen, a new elevator, a refurbished cafeteria, sparkling wood and tile floors and other improvements.
“It’s beautiful. I can see the difference,” said member Roberta Hayes. “(The center) does a lot for seniors, and I’m so glad it’s back open!”
The renovations cost about $1 million, said LINC Chief Operations Officer Jeff Hill. The work was done with support from the City of Kansas City, state and county officials, a grant from the Urban Action Agency as well as financial investment from LINC, he said.
“It’s an investment in our seniors,” Hill said, “who are core to the health of our community and our neighborhoods.”
Miles-Bartee waved the crowd in after the ribbon cutting and then watched with joy the enthusiasm for the center that saw its membership grow from just under 100 to more than 500 in the two years under the management of LINC and Robinson.
The members have enjoyed a full range of health and fitness programs, workshops, partnerships with community agencies, field trips to cultural and entertainment events, parties, celebrations and fellowship.
“I’m excited about all the work that is going on here at Palestine,” Miles-Bartee said. “The seniors are excited. They’re ready to get back in here and get back to their line dancing, and bingo, and playing dominoes. It’s a place where they can come and be together, have someone to talk to — someone to lean on.”
Member Frederick Crawford joined in the reopening and called it an important day for neighborhoods surrounding the center.
“You need things like this in this area,” he said. “It needs vitality.”
Member Bernadette Russell was feeling it. As the crowd had gathered outside ahead of the start of the ceremony, she danced to the music in her black pants, tennis shoes and Chiefs jersey. Happy to be here, she said. Happy to dance.
Watkins was thinking of her and all the members and friends later as he walked through the center.
“What a glorious day this is as we continue the legacy of taking care of seniors,” he said. “It’s just a wonderful, wonderful day for people to see all the opportunities and potential that they still have.”
