Ever feel like Los Gatos is missing a certain…spark? Do you observe, as I and many others have, that our town revolves around adorable boutiques, great restaurants, and cozy coffee houses but lacks a central hub for community gatherings and connections? Fret no more. The Los Gatos Foundation for Older Adults to Thrive (yes, it is a mouthful) is on a mission to rectify this situation.Â
Many of you already know about us from the well-attended, and tremendously successful Monday morning gathering to view the Fall Guy movie featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. We recently held this event at the Los Gatos Theatre. We plan on holding more Monday morning movie get togethers there, featuring great movies, coffee, and a pastry, all for the low price of $10.
Imagine a brand-new community center where toddlers can unleash their inner Picasso talents, teens can jam to their favorite tunes, and seasoned citizens can swap stories about the good old days (rather than being stuck at home, yelling at the neighbor kids to keep the music down or get off their lawn). This new project is not a mirage, it’s the vision for our very own community center!
But here’s the thing: to make this vision a reality, we need your help. We’re doing a needs/wants assessment, so we require your brilliant ideas and insightful opinions.
Survey Says…
Think of yourself as an oracle, wielding the power to shape the future of Los Gatos. We’ve put together a short—and oh-so-sweet—survey (it’ll take less time than the wait time at your morning coffee queue at Los Gatos Roasting Company, Great Bear Coffee, the Purple Onion, Peet’s, or Starbucks). You can find this survey at:
LGCommunityCenter.org.
This survey is your chance to tell us what kind of magic you want sprinkled into a new community haven.
Digging Deeper: The Los Gatos Masonic Center Workshop
For those who crave a deeper dive (and maybe some free food – we won’t judge!), we’re hosting a focus group-style workshop on June 20, at the Los Gatos Masonic Center located at 131 E Main Street, from 5pm-8pm (with time to socialize afterwards). This is your chance to unleash your inner architect (or interior designer, or social butterfly spirit) and brainstorm alongside your neighbors.
Why All Ages Matter
A community is a beautiful tapestry woven from threads of all ages. We want a center that caters to the finger-painting set, the book club enthusiasts, and everyone in between.
From our field trips to other towns and cities, including Los Altos, Mountain View, Saratoga, Palo Alto, and Morgan Hill we’ve learned that they boast community centers with beautiful architecture. They are also bustling hubs of activity, offering pottery classes, ping pong tables, game rooms, daycare facilities, exercise classes, dining/major event rooms, dance classes, bocce ball courts, pool tables, computer rooms, technological state of the art meeting rooms and pickleball courts. The options for a community center are nearly endless. Los Gatos deserves a space like these other community centers have.
The Takeaway
So, ditch Netflix, put on your thinking caps, bring your needs/wants assessment ideas, and dust off your social butterfly wings. Let’s get together (all ages welcome!) and design a community center that will make Los Gatos the envy of the entire Bay Area. Remember, the survey is a breeze at LGCommunityCenter.org, and the workshop is on June 20th at the Los Gatos Masonic Center, with food to fuel your creative genius.
Because let’s face it, a community center built by the community is a community center for the community. That’s a recipe for success (and maybe even some epic community cook-offs in the center’s future kitchen – just a thought).
Los Gatos deserves a center that reflects the vibrant spirit of our town. Imagine a space that fosters creativity, connection and maybe even a healthy dose of friendly competition during a community ping-pong or chess tournament. This center can be a hub for local organizations, a launchpad for budding artists, and a haven for anyone looking to escape the monotony of the everyday.
Let’s show the rest of the Bay Area that Los Gatos has spark, and really rocks.
