Forest Park Senior Center pleads for roof rescue as time runs out for Baltimore elders

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Water dripping from the ceiling, buckling floors and a worsening roof leak are threatening the future of the Forest Park Senior Center on Baltimore’s far west side, forcing the center to turn seniors away as its owners plead for help.

The Forest Park Senior Center is one of the few senior centers left in the city, but its building is in “critical condition,” with visible damage from ongoing leaks.

“The roof is going to deteriorate more and we can’t do nothing here. We can’t have people singing songs and doing line dances in the water,” said Terra Hill-Aston who’s husband, Joe Aston, purchased the building 30-years ago. He says the city dedicated funds to help replace the roof but changed course.

“I said this is unfair to the Forest Park senior community,” Joe Aston said.

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“We’re the center point of the community and no one else does what we do,” he said.

“They took the money and put it in another line item and said it’ll be back in a minute,” said Tessa Hill-Aston.

But that “minute,” she said, turned into years. On Wednesday night, Hill Aston went to City Hall to voice her frustration and ask for action.

“I’ve called several numbers and several agencies and I’ve not got a call back. I’ve sent emails for help. I have not gotten no call back in a year… and the sicker my husband gets the madder I get…” she told members of Baltimore’s Board of Estimates.

“They just ignore us and don’t want us to come down and plead our case,” said Joe Aston.

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Kim Trueheart, who operates children’s programs in part of the building, said she also doesn’t understand why the city hasn’t stepped in.

“It seems not to be high on the priority list,” Trueheart said.

“I think the taxpayers want money spent in communities helping populations. And why not the senior population,” she said.

No promises were made following Hill Aston’s appearance at City Hall on Wednesday night. For the senior center in the Howard Park community, Hill Aston said, time is running out.

“I think we’re a lost community and I don’t see anyone jumping up and down so I’ve gotta go help Howard Park,” she said.