LINESVILLE — Elaine Schmidt and Joanne Watts both anticipate even bigger and better changes in their lives when the new Lakeland/Valley Regional Senior Community Center in Linesville opens later this year.

Ground was broken Thursday by Active Aging Inc. for the 7,500-square-foot Lakeland/Valley center on South Pymatuning Street that will replace smaller facilities in Linesville and Springboro.

The current Linesville center only has about 1,000 square feet.

“It truly has changed my life,” Schmidt, 73, said about going to the Valley Senior Center in Springboro for the past four years. She began visiting the center to combat loneliness after her husband died.

“It’s fellowship and activities,” she said. “I sew. We talk. We communicate.”

“I do aerobics and Tai Chi (a Chinese exercise that uses slow movements),” said Watts, 65, of Espyville, who has been going to the Linesville center for the past two years. “It’s a great group of people. You have a good time and I’ve developed a lot of lasting friendships.”

Opening of the new center is some-

thing they eagerly await.

“There’ll be lots more room and lots more activities to do,” said Schmidt, who was one of about 125 people at Thursday’s ceremonial groundbreaking.

“This will be a big improvement,” Watts said. “Everybody’s excited and looking forward to this.”

The building will be complete with an exercise room, learning and activity space, computer equipment, an indoor walking track and a versatile, open-span area for dining, exercise classes and large events, said Donna Stimpson, executive director of Active Aging Inc.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this,” she said of the new center that has been in development since 2004. “It’s been a journey and we have a little ways to go.”

The building, to be constructed by Associated Contractors Inc. of Meadville, is expected to be ready by about Oct. 1. Stimpson praised the Bair family of Linesville for donating the land for the new facility.

“I grew up in this community. I love this community and I’m going to retire in this community,” said Brian Bair, speaking for the family. “This building will be here for decades. It’s our pleasure to give this to Active Aging.”

Funding for the close to $1 million project has come from a variety of sources.