DEERFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The first of three public forums for the future of the South County Senior Center with town officials and contracted consultants from edmStudio illustrated two paths forward; a new building could be constructed on the current Deerfield Town Hall property for an estimated $16.9 million, or an addition could be built onto the Whately Town Offices for $15.5 million.
The South County Senior Center serves the communities of Deerfield, Whately, Sunderland and beyond with overall use of the current center rapidly growing from 262 active members from 2019-2021 to over 670 current active members. The existing center at 22 Amherst Road in Sunderland cannot sustain the current and growing membership, leading to the exploration of options for a new building.
Additional public forums will be held with one at the Whately Town Hall on February 28th at 10 a.m. and another at the Sunderland Public Library on March 19th at 2 p.m.