The Cooper Center for Active Living in Newtonville logged more than 50,000 visits in its first six months of operation, a milestone that underscores how many Newton residents over 60 are looking for places to connect.
About one-quarter of Newton's population is 60 or older, according to a 2025 UMass Boston community needs assessment that surveyed 2,869 residents. That share is expected to grow.
The Cooper Center is one of at least nine organizations and programs serving that population, as Fig City News reported Tuesday, Aug. 11. The list spans free rides and home repairs, art studios, lifelong-learning courses and LGBTQ+ social gatherings.
Cooper Center draws walkers, artists and pool players
The 33,000-square-foot center at 345 Walnut St. opened Dec. 5, 2025, and is named for longtime civic leader Audrey Cooper. It runs more than 100 programs a week, from fitness classes and lectures to musical performances and games. Its suspended indoor walking track has become one of its most popular features.
Mignonne Murray, director of Older Adult Services for the city, said friendships often form outside scheduled programming. "People meet while walking on the indoor track, playing billiards or ping pong, sharing a meal in the Cooper Café, reading in the library, or simply relaxing in one of our lounges," Murray told Fig City News.
The city partners with GoGo Newton, an on-demand ride service, to bring residents to and from the center from anywhere in Newton. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Newton at Home marks 15 years of volunteer-powered help
Newton at Home, a volunteer-driven nonprofit celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, helps older adults age in place with transportation, minor home repairs, technology assistance and friendly visits. Executive director Alexandra Johnson said the organization serves about 200 people a year and provides roughly 3,000 services.
Memberships for residents experiencing financial hardship range from about $20 a month to free.
Arthur Glasgow, a Newton at Home vice president and volunteer, recalled members in their 80s, 90s and even early 100s who live alone but look forward to time with their volunteer drivers and visitors. Glasgow told Fig City News he gets as much out of helping members as they get from the services he provides.
Art, education and community across Newton
The New Art Center, located a block from the Cooper Center, recorded more than 3,300 enrollments over the past year. Executive director Christina An said older adults are one of the center's strongest demographics. Esther Dezube, a Board of Governors member who has taken ceramics classes there for three years, keeps coming back for the social bonds. Her class calls itself the "Ceramics Ladies," texts between sessions and meets for breakfast during breaks.
Newton Community Education, a self-sustaining arm of Newton Public Schools at 457 Walnut St., offers adult courses in arts, fitness, languages and more, with income-based scholarships prioritizing Newton residents.
Wellesley-Weston Lifetime Learning, an all-volunteer nonprofit that recently marked its 50th anniversary, charges a flat $25 registration fee for unlimited courses. Newton sends more participants than any of the 43 communities it serves.
LGBTQ+ Newton and faith-based connections
LGBTQ+ Newton, founded by Rosa Buffone, hosts gatherings in members' homes and at restaurants, including craft nights, bocce games and fireside chats. Ellen Simmons, a member who uses a rollator, said she had long avoided groups where she was typically the only lesbian. Through LGBTQ+ Newton she formed a friendship with another lesbian who also has disabilities.
The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton runs an Over 60s Group developed by congregation members who wanted a space to talk openly about the challenges of aging.
