Beach seniors need programs
To the editor:
It is commendable of the Bay Oaks Recreation facility to offer a toddler program allowing these preschoolers to interact with their peers prior to entering their formal school years. This is certainly a worthwhile offering and adds to the many, many activities aimed at school-aged children already existent at Bay Oaks.
However community programs should also reflect community composition.
According to data presented on unitedstateszipcodes.org there are 479 individuals in the “under the age of 20 years” category on Fort Myers Beach. Ninety nine of these are under 5 years of age – perhaps half of these (45) could be toddlers. At the other end of the spectrum, there are 5,722 individuals listed in the 20 year category “60 years of age to 80 years of age.” Seniors, although large in number, appear to be under serviced. The Senior Coordinator staff position is frequently empty. At present the manager of the community pool is splitting his time in an attempt to cover senior activities. Programs directed at and for seniors are sorely needed.
Virginia Pisarra, Ph.D.
Fort Myers Beach