State Funds to Upgrade Seven Oaks Senior Center

State Sen. Carl Jackson announced on May 16 that Maryland had secured $100,000 in state funding for upgrades at four Baltimore County senior centers, including the Seven Oaks Senior Center in Perry Hall. The money will go through the Baltimore County Department of Aging and is tied to a 2026 bond initiative for security and technology improvements. Seven Oaks is one of four sites named in the project, alongside Parkville, Overlea-Fullerton and Victory Villa. State documents say the work includes electrical infrastructure, security upgrades and key card access. ### Which center in Perry Hall is included in the state funding? Seven Oaks Senior Center, at 9210 Seven Courts Drive in Perry Hall, is one of the four facilities listed in the state bond initiative. Baltimore County says the center serves Perry Hall, White Marsh and nearby communities, and offers programs and services for members age 60 and older and their families. Baltimore County’s website lists regular activities at Seven Oaks including fitness classes, crafts, cards, travel programs and community outreach services. The county also posts an active 2026 event calendar for the site, showing the center remains a regular hub for older residents in the area. ### What exactly did the state approve for Seven Oaks and the other centers? The 2026 Maryland bond initiative is titled “Senior Center Security and Technology Enhancements” and requests $100,000 for Baltimore County. The fact sheet says the money is for “acquisition, planning, design, construction, expansion, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping,” including electrical infrastructure at the four senior centers. The same state document says the project’s purpose is to upgrade electrical and security infrastructure at Seven Oaks, Parkville, Overlea-Fullerton and Victory Villa. It says the work is intended to modernize electrical systems, enhance security features and install key card access so the centers can “safely and reliably deliver 21st century programming.” ### Who announced the funding, and when? Jackson unveiled the funding during a morning ceremony at Seven Oaks Senior Center in Perry Hall on May 16, according to a local report on the event. The report said representatives from the Baltimore County Executive’s Office, the Baltimore County Council and the recipient facilities attended, along with Delegates Nick Allen, Kim Ross and Harry Bhandari. An earlier April 2 report on the same funding said Jackson described the investment as aimed at bolstering safety and modernizing facilities for older residents in Maryland’s 8th District. That report said the planned improvements would focus on entryways while also covering broader technology needs inside the buildings. ### Does the money cover only Seven Oaks? The $100,000 is not earmarked solely for Perry Hall. Jackson and the state bond fact sheet both identify four recipient centers: Seven Oaks, Parkville, Overlea-Fullerton and Victory Villa. State records name the grantee as the County Executive and County Council of Baltimore County, with the Baltimore County Department of Aging as the operating agency supported by the funds. The department runs 21 senior centers, including 20 physical locations and one virtual center, according to the bond initiative fact sheet. ### What problem are officials trying to address at these centers? The state fact sheet says controlled entry systems are especially important at senior centers because staff must balance open community access with building security. The document says key card access can help prevent unauthorized entry, reduce intrusion risks and improve emergency response. Jackson said in the April announcement that the initiative was designed to help older residents feel safe and supported when using community resources. The state filing also says the upgrades are meant to support a growing older population in District 8 and help the centers provide “safe, accessible, and future-ready community spaces.” ### What happens next for Seven Oaks? Baltimore County will administer the grant through its Department of Aging, according to the state bond initiative filing. The state document authorizes funding for planning, design, repair and capital equipping, which means project details and timing will be set through the county’s implementation process. Seven Oaks continues to operate while the funding moves forward. Baltimore County’s public calendar lists upcoming programs at the Perry Hall center through June and beyond, and the county maintains the center’s page with schedules, services and contact information for members.