Douglas County has experienced explosive population growth, especially amongst its active seniors ages 55 and up. The Douglas senior community grew by 100 percent over the past ten years, and is estimated to grow another 100 percent in the next ten years.
The County has a long commitment to ensuring a positive quality of life for senior citizens. In 2002, SPLOST funded the construction of the Woodie Fite Center, an outstanding facility
for active seniors. The Center and its programs - dances, clubs, travel, and classes in art, computers, and music - are full to capacity.
To serve the growing senior community, Headley Construction is building a new senior citizens center in Lithia Springs adjacent to the new Fire Station No. 1 on South Sweetwater/Groover's Lake Roads. This center will feature a full roster of activities and services to local seniors, including indoor pool, dance studio and fitness facilities.
The 15,000-square-foot building is projected to cost just under $4.2 million and will be paid for with funds from the 2016 SPLOST. In April, AJC reported that "even during the coronavirus pandemic, Douglas County is continuing to use SPLOST dollars to construct projects."
With COVID-19 social distancing best practices in mind, Douglas County administrators gathered in May to tour the work-in-progress and celebrate the groundbreaking with remarks from Commission Chairwoman Dr. Romona Jackson Jones, Vice Chairman and
District 2 Commissioner Kelly Robinson, and others who are working to build better facilities for Douglas County seniors so they can age-in-place.