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North Davis County residents have the bad economy to thank for their bright, new senior center in Clearfield.

County officials had long planned to build a new Health Department building and estimated the cost at $10 million. But with the slowdown in construction activity, the cost came in at just over half that.

With the leftover money, the county built the North Davis Senior Activity Center for $3.2 million — about 10 years earlier than anyone had hoped, said center manager Marian McPeak.

"We are absolutely over the moon," she said. "We didn't expect this."

The new facility replaces the old Heritage Senior Activity Center, which shut down at the end of February for the move. The building is still a work in progress, but lunches are being served in the airy dining room and activities are being added as construction is finished, furniture delivered and supplies readied, McPeak said.

The dining room with an open kitchen, stage with a rear-projection screen and covered patio outside for warm-weather barbecues are the highlights of the 15,000-square-foot, single-level facility. An adjacent open area houses the card tables and will soon sport pool tables, McPeak said.

"Oh, it's beautiful," said Clearfield resident Christa Simon, taking a break from an afternoon game of Texas Hold 'Em poker. "I love it. It impressed me right off the bat."

There's a lot to love. The architect who designed the Health Department building also drew up the plans for the immediately adjacent senior center. The modern, clean design incorporates bamboo plank flooring, high ceilings and plentiful natural light.

The old Heritage Center served 40 to 100 people daily. Most of the patrons are 70 or older. McPeak and Health Department spokesman Bob Ballew said they are working on new programming that will draw a younger crowd of boomers, who are more likely to want yoga, tai chi and other health-based programming than some of the more traditional choices, such as ceramics.

"We've got big plans for younger senior activities, because they want to keep moving," McPeak said. "We're going to teach people how to exercise effectively."

The center uses geothermal heating and cooling and is tied into the Health Department's local-area networking for computer use. There is a library, lounge, beauty salon, a computer room, art rooms, a separate bingo room and an exercise space large enough for cardio equipment, free weights and Zumba dance classes.

The Health Department, whose new building opened in November, has landed a grant to provide services to people with early stage Alzheimer's disease at the center in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association of Utah.

Since the dining room also is an activity room and has the large rear-projection screen, McPeak said, they're even plotting some evening programming that could include people over 60 who still have day jobs.

For now, the regulars fill two long card tables, playing Hold 'Em as usual. Clinton residents Shirlie and Darwin Henrie, both retired, said they were pleased with the senior center, old and new.

"We come and eat lunch," Darwin Henrie said, "and then we play." —

New senior center opens in Clearfield

The North Davis Senior Activity Center, at 42 S. State St., serves seniors in Clearfield, northern Layton, South Weber, Syracuse, Clinton, Sunset and West Point. It replaces the old Heritage Senior Activity Center.

Programs include weekday lunches, exercise, recreation, transportation, health screenings, nutritional supplements and social services. The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information • Call 801-525-5080. Visit bit.ly/fdu9jv for lunch menus, activity calendars and frequently-asked questions.