Brockton Senior Center Reopens Following $7.7M Renovation

Nearly 11 years ago, Sherrie McMullen began volunteering at the Brockton Council on Aging (BCOA). On Monday, March 3, McMullen cut the ribbon on a $7.7 million renovation of the Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center. More than 200 people helped celebrate the reopening.

The extensive renovation added approximately 4,000 square feet to the center and upgraded its interior, which was gutted to its studs and rebuilt. According to The Enterprise, Mayor Robert F. Sullivan's administration used approximately $6.7 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and $1 million from the state to perform the renovation work.

In addition to the physical renovation work on the facility, the BCOA, which manages it, unveiled a new logo and tagline that better reflects the organization's mission of service: "Brockton Council on Aging: At the heart of active living."

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, BCOA Director Janice Fitzgerald thanked her staff for their efforts during the renovation. She explained that 10,000 people are registered for services through the BCOA. As news about the renovated senior center reaches the public, she anticipates that number to increase. "It is anticipated that we will see a significant increase of members with this new building. We are excited, and we are ready," she said.

The senior center is named after Mary Cruise Kennedy, a nurse who, for decades, supervised the night shift at Brockton Hospital. She died in 2011 at age 101, surrounded by friends and family.

Kennedy's nephew, City Clerk Tim Cruise, commented on what he thought his aunt would think about the renovations: "She'd first say, 'How much did it cost?' and 'Oh my God, that's crazy,' but she'd be thrilled for the people. She was a real believer in taking care of people and also keeping busy herself. That's how she stayed young."