How a senior community re-invents itself to get younger …

Leisure World is an active adult community that has had a presence in Arizona since the early 70’s. Its initial design was as a modern retirement community looking toward the 21^st century. Typical of developments of the time it features the small town design of wider streets, larger lots and mature landscaping. Qualified as an age restricted community by HUD, it catered to the retirement dreams of the era: gated community for security, two golf courses, tennis, swimming, lawn bowling, shuffleboard for leisure time and an Activities Department dedicated to encourage and support any special interest group or club that wanted to form. Unlike many community developments of its time, it didn’t stop there.

Since Leisure World is an unincorporated area, located in Mesa, but not a legal part of that city, it has to provide its own services and town-like management and administration. The community learned at an early age to be self-sufficient and progressive in its thinking and long range planning. It organized itself into districts, set up an elected board of directors and installed a professional management team. For example, the Community Manager is a former town manager. All of the department heads are specialists and active members of national organizations for community services like recreation, landscaping, and golf course management. As the resident demographics have evolved over time, the residents and management have kept Leisure World in a continuous mode of re-invention to keep its facilities fresh and to match current trends and resident desires for a resort lifestyle.

Fast forward to 2010, where the much written about boomers are flowing into semi-retirement instead of full retirement, and many choose not to retire at all, but still want to live the active adult lifestyle. They are looking for amenities like walking trails, fitness facilities, weekend and evening events, to add to their interest in golf, tennis and swimming. They are interested in 21^stcentury facilities like computer centers, wifi hot zones, wellness programs and activities that fit their schedule. In strained economic times, many choose to defer actual retirement, but don’t want to delay living the active adult lifestyle.

As if they knew the boomers were coming (and maybe they did), Leisure World began rebuilding itself years ago. When growth of activities outpaced recreation centers, they remodeled and expanded and have three modern facilities located through the 900 acre community. A new crafts building was completed in 2009. In 2003, the community raised 300,000 dollars to equip an 11,000 square foot state of the art fitness facility. The Fitness Center is busy 17 hours a day, seven days a week. Run by a professional fitness staff, they have added four Power Plate systems, a cutting edge fitness system, which has been a great hit. One of the recreation centers has completed a major remodel and upgrade including a fully digital sound and AV system. There is a new pro shop and café. Beginning in April of 2010, construction of a new aquatic center to replace an existing complex will begin with completion expected in October of 2010. The new complex will have a lap pool, a covered therapy pool, a spa, new dressing rooms, and a covered patio overlooking the signature hole on the golf course.

As the Community Association added new computer capabilities in its department offices, spread throughout the community, they added wifi Internet hot zones for resident and guest convenience. Laptops are a common sight in the library and on the promenade. A computer classroom with 16 fully equipped stations is home to a full schedule of classes for beginners and special interest groups. A computer lab hosts another dozen systems for residents and guests to use to check Email, plan trips, and work on projects. An example of the Leisure World re-invention philosophy is the annual upgrade of 25-35% of the computer equipment to assure that the latest in hardware and software is available for training and casual use.

New residents brought new athletic desires so Leisure World has added facilities for pickle ball, basketball, lap swimming and walking trails. A new irrigation system is being installed to keep the golf courses fresh.

Leisure World may have older roots, but it has managed to stay fresh and current by following a long range planning philosophy of re-invention. The community is fortunate in being able to partially fund the constant re-invention from its own real estate office. Volunteers have also led fund raising drives that have made multimillion dollar projects like the Fitness Center and new Recreation Centers possible. Boomers have noticed. The Leisure World Arizona Realty Office reports the lower ages of new buyers and that the most requested features are right out of the boomer wish list.