Let the Games Begin!!

Baldwin Center Re-opens for Games, Classes, and Camaraderie

On Wednesday an official reopening and a celebration of the just-completed renovations and upgrades at the Baldwin Center facility for seniors and the greater community took place.

Tammy Trojanowski, the Town of Stratford’s Director of Community and Senior Services, which operates the Baldwin Center, likened the renovation project to a popular reality television home makeover program. “The Extreme Makeover – Baldwin Edition is worthy of an Emmy Award!” she said.

“We now have a more welcoming and multi-functional space,” Trojanowski said. “Our residents love it
While the Baldwin Center was closed for health safety reasons during COVID-related shutdowns, the Town took the opportunity to do a wide array of improvements that had been planned.

A gathering of residents as well as Councilor Bill O’Brien, State Senator Kevin Kelly, State Representatives Joe Gresko and Phil Young, Judge of Probate Max Rosenberg, and former 2nd District Councilor Ron Tichy were treated to a tour of the newly renovated facility as well as food and beverages.
Members of the family of Raymond E. Baldwin, former Governor and Chief Justice of Connecticut for whom the Center is named, were also in attendance.

The fresh coat of paint on the exterior of the building, which is behind the historic Perry House on West Broad Street and the new railing around the bocce court that sits beside The Burying Ground across the fence are the first things you will notice.

Inside the Baldwin Center, improvements on the first floor are highlighted by the removal of a wall that created increased capacity and comfort in the conference room. A coat closet has replaced unsightly coat racks in the Main Hall, and another closet was added in the coffee shop for better storage and easier access to the games and puzzles.

The renovation includes new flooring, new fixtures, updated restrooms, fresh painted walls, and new furniture. Many of the program rooms are now outfitted with video monitors to enhance presentations by staff and the community. Baldwin Center hosted up to 1,500 visitors every week before the pandemic.

There are new boilers for more efficient heating, a new elevator in full service, and offices have been refreshed and redesigned to maximize work area efficiency. Downstairs, a more spacious game room has been created by removing a wall between the ping-pong room and an adjacent smaller room.

Many deserve thanks for the hard work on this project, particualrly Raynae Serra, Director of Public Works, and Tammy Trojanowski, Director of Community and Senior Services, and all those on their staffs.

Baldwin Center renovations – over 80% paid for by State and Federal funding, courtesy of State Reps Joe Gresko and Phil Young and Town councilors who allocated $400k of HUD’s CDBG low/mod income grant to Baldwin Center. Town allocated $800k in 2020 and $200k in 2021. CDBG provided $400k for overall cost of $1.4m

Regular hours at the Baldwin Center are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information visit StratfordCT.gov/Departments/Senior Services, or call 203-385-4050.