Programs for Adults 50+

Designed to keep adults 50 years of age and older and adults of any age with a disability actively engaged in the community, these programs serve those seeking opportunity to become involved and stay connected.

Bloomington offers a unique opportunity for 50+ participants who want to be involved and leaders in the planning, developing and implementing of activities and programs.

For questions, information or other assistance, contact Parks and Recreation at:
952-563-4944 | MN Relay 711 | ParksRec@BloomingtonMN.gov

Former Creekside Programs

Creekside Community Center's last day of operation is May 30, 2025 as it makes way for the new Community Health and Wellness Center (CHWC). 95% of Creekside’s programming is being transitioned on an interim basis to:

Logan Lodge, 9930 Logan Ave. S. Opens June 16, 2025 and features four unique programming spaces.
- Card groups
- Craft groups
- Special events
- Education and information presentations
- Bloomingtones and Crickets musical groups

Bloomington Center for the Arts, east entrance

Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.
- Chair and Gentle Mat Yoga
- Fun Functional Fitness
- Low-impact exercise classes
- Line dancing classes
- The Boutique
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 8600 Fremont Ave. S.
- Country Music Jammers

All programs will move to the new Community Health and Wellness Center when it opens in 2027. For more information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions on BloomingtonForward.org.

Arts and Crafts

Creative Crafts

Finish incomplete projects or challenge your inner artist and create something beautiful with donated supplies we have on hand.

Schedule
Thursday: 1 - 3 p.m.

Leatherworking

Check out leatherworking and learn to make crafts and works of art out of leather. Tools, leather, and dyes available to use.

Schedule
Monday and Thursday: 12:30 - 3 p.m.

Needleworkers

Socialize while creating blankets, scarves and other clothing items. Each year, local charities and schools receive an average 4,000 items are donated from this group.

Schedule
Thursday: 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Quilting

Share your talents with this group. Crafts and quilts are made using donated materials. Many of the items are donated to various charities.

Schedule
Tuesday and Friday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Woodshop

Bloomington woodshop users may utilize the Eden Prairie woodshop located at Eden Prairie Senior Center, 8950 Eden Prairie Road.

For more information visit the Eden Prairie Senior Center Crafts and Creative Arts webpage.

Cards

Bridge

Mondays, 12:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Participants must bring a partner
$1 to play.

Club 500

Tuesdays and Fridays, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. $1 to play.

Cribbage

Wednesdays, 12:30 – 3 p.m. and Thursdays, 12:45 – 3:15 p.m. $1 to play.

Euchre

Wednesdays, 9 – 11:30 a.m. $1 to play.

Hand and Foot Canasta

Mondays, 12:15 – 3:30 p.m.
$1 to play.

Hearts

Fridays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
$2 to play.

Pinochle

Single deck.
Mondays, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
$1 to play.

Education and Information Sharing

Book Club

Join us to discuss current and classic novels.
Call 952-563-4944 for book titles.

Meets 4th Tuesday of the month at 12:30pm (3rd Tuesday in December).

Open Tech Lab

Tutors are on hand to help with technology questions Thursdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Bring your own laptop, tablet or cell phone.

Senior Discussion Group

Enjoy conversation with other older adults on a range of topics such as adjusting to retirement, staying healthy, and current news. This group offers the opportunity to meet new people and share your interests. Senior Discussion Group leader will offer conversation topics weekly, but participants are also encouraged to bring your own topics for discussion.

Subjects may include:

Health
Safety
Scams
Current Events
News articles
Retirement
Activities

Group meets Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Writers Club

Writers of all skill levels welcome. Bring out the best writer in you in whichever genre you prefer.

Meets 1 - 3 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month, January – October and the third Thursday of the month, November and December.

Fitness and Exercise

Yoga

NOTE: Classes take place in the second floor painting studio at Bloomington Center for the Arts.

Gentle Mat Yoga

Learn a gentle form of yoga with modified movements and proper breathing techniques. Offered on Tuesdays in 6-week sessions unless otherwise noted. See fees below.

Sessions

Dates coming soon!
- Session 1: 9 - 10 a.m.
- Session 2: 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Chair Yoga

A modified form of yoga, using exercise principles of traditional yoga to increase participant's health and fitness by replacing a floor mat with a chair. Offered on Fridays in 6-week sessions unless otherwise noted. See fees below.

Sessions

Dates coming soon!
- Session 1: 9 - 10 a.m.
- Session 2: 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Fees

6-week Session: $42 for Bloomington residents, $54 for nonresidents
Drop-in: $11 for Bloomington residents, $13 for nonresidents.
- Available when space permits
Cancellation policy applies.
Register online at blm.mn/webtrac.

Fun Functional Fitness

NOTE: Classes take place in the second floor painting studio at Bloomington Center for the Arts.

Improve strength, balance, and flexibility in this 45-minute class. Light weights and bands will be provided for a total body workout. Class will be modified for all abilities.

Thursdays, 12 - 12:45 p.m.
- 6-week session: Dates coming soon!
  - Fees: $42 - Bloomington resident / $54 - nonresident
Location: Room 110
Registration: Required. Register online at Webtrac

Line Dancing Classes

NOTE: Classes take place in the first floor rehearsal hall at Bloomington Center for the Arts.

From beginners to experts, everyone is invited to participate in line dancing class. The instructor will teach steps to the dances, and new dances will be taught at each class.

Line Dancing is a fun way to move your body with benefits to coordination, heart and lung function, and brain stimulation.

Drop-in classes
- Wednesdays:
  - Dates coming soon
  - Dates coming soon
  - Dates coming soon
- 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Fee: $5 payable at Parks and Recreation main counter on day of class.

For questions or additional information, call 952-563-4944 (or MN Relay 711).

Low Impact Exercise

NOTE: Classes take place in the second floor painting studio at Bloomington Center for the Arts.

Offering a light and moderate way to exercise, this class focuses on balance, low impact aerobics and strength training at not cost.

This is a video-guided class.

Mondays, 9 - 10 a.m. and 10 - 11 a.m.
Fridays, 9 - 10 a.m. and 10 - 11 a.m.

Walking Club

Join in the fun of the Walking Club!

This free program meets Tuesday mornings at various Bloomington parks. A Parks and Recreation Department staff member will lead a 1–3 mile hike. Participants can go at their own pace and distance.

Walking Club focuses on socialization and enjoying the great outdoors. Often referred to as the best exercise, walking offers health benefits that include (but are not limited to):

Strengthening the heart
Lowering blood sugar
Easing joint pain
Boosting immune function
Burning calories
Improving mood
Extending life expectancy
Toning legs
Enhancing creative thinking
Source: Healthline.com

Meeting locations and routes are sent via email to registered participants the previous Friday.

Registration: Required online at blm.mn/webtrac.
Fee: Free
Where: Locations vary
When: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

Health

Bloomington Public Health

Services
Contact Ann Sattler at 612-704-3578.

Free Medicare Counseling Appointments

One-on-one appointments to help navigate the often complex process of enrolling in Medicare or supplemental health insurance policies. Provided by the Senior LinkAge Line.

Schedule an in-person appointment at trellisconnects.org/get-help/medicare or 1-800-333-2433.
Second and fourth Tuesdays, no fee.

Leadership

Music

Music groups are available for performances in Bloomington and the greater metropolitan area. NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN!

The Bloomingtones

A mixed choral group who sing a wide variety of music from all eras for pleasure and entertainment. Rehearsals are Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Group meets September through May.

Crickets

This band plays and sings oldies, country, polkas, waltzes, and show tunes at various venues in the area. Welcoming new members of all abilities that have an interest in music. Rehearsals are Thursdays, 10 - 11:30 a.m., September through May.

Country Music Jam

The Country Music Jammers have moved to Christ the King Church, 8600 Fremont Avenue South. Join, listen or dance as they play FREE concerts Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Recreation and Games

Born Again Jocks

Men’s sports leagues including bocce ball, bowling, tennis, golf, softball, table tennis and volleyball. For more information, contact Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877. Fees may apply.

Bunco

Meets at 1 p.m. the first and second Tuesday of the month.

Garden Club

Create and design flower containers and gardens. Donations of plants and gardening tools are accepted and can be picked up by volunteers. Monthly group meetings the fourth Wednesday of each month, March - October, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Holds an Annual Plant Exchange the first Saturday in June, 8 - 11 a.m.

Informal games and equipment

Puzzles, card and board games, table tennis, and Nintendo Wii (bowling, tennis, and golf) equipment to check out and use.

LEGO Club

Fridays, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Work together to build something awesome! Participants team up to assemble a large LEGO set, piece by piece. Free program. All materials provided.

Register on Webtrac.

Mahjong

Wednesdays, 10am-12pm (begins June 18, 2025)

Room #101 at Logan Lodge

Join us for Mahjong! All experience levels are welcome—from beginners to seasoned players. If you have your own Mahjong set, feel free to bring it along, though sets will be available to use.

Come ready to play, learn, and enjoy the game together! No registration required.

Movies

Enjoy watching a movie with others on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 10 a.m.

Call 952-563-4944 for movie titles and dates.

Nintendo Wii

Stay active and start a league today. Video bowling, tennis, golf, and more. Wii bowling Wednesday league, 12 p.m.

Table Tennis

Table Tennis will take place at Substance Church-Southside Campus gym, 6820 Auto Club Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438

Dates and times: TBD

New Community Health and Wellness Center

Two years of resident input helped the City develop the long-term Bloomington Forward investment plan to support three major community projects for better health, wellness, athletics and recreation. In November 2023, Bloomington voters approved a half-percent local sales tax to finance $155 million in bonds to pay for modernization of Bloomington Ice Garden, a new Community Health and Wellness Center to replace Creekside Community Center and the Bloomington Public Health building, and restoration and improvements in the Nine Mile Creek corridor and Central/Moir Park.

The new Community Health and Wellness Center may include gyms with bleachers, walking/jogging track, indoor playground, supervised child play area, exercise, fitness and senior program spaces, multi-purpose community rooms, pool with family locker rooms, and public health program, exam and counseling spaces.

Learn more at bloomingtonforward.org /chwc.

Programs for Adults 50+

Parks and Recreation Links

Former Creekside Programs

Download the latest issue of the Penn Post newsletter

Subscribe to receive the print version of the Penn Post newsletter

Alive & Kickin 15: The Reunion Tour Preview Performance

New Community Health and Wellness Center

Contact Information

Older Adult Programs