“Without continual growth and progress,” Ben Franklin once said, “words such as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning.” In the same spirit, innovation has been a driving force in The Glenridge’s evolution for the past two decades – and as we look back at 2023, this year has been no exception.
From the celebration of our 20th anniversary – a landmark event for members and leadership alike – to a series of exciting new amenities for wellness, cuisine and culture, we never stopped striving to improve and stay on the cutting edge.
In February, we kicked off the year with the grand opening of stunning $5.5 million Kamberg Center, an impressive health and wellness pavilion that embraces our Six Keys to Living Well® philosophy. There, members can access a host of resources designed to bolster whole-person health – including spaces for rehabilitation, fitness classes, recreation, counseling and intellectual wellness.
Like so many of our community’s crowning achievements, the Kamberg is a testament to the generosity of our members – in this case, a nearly $4 million gift from member Tina Kamberg. The beautiful building reflects her vision of creating a space where anyone – regardless of age – can truly flourish through engaged, inspired living.
As spring turned to summer, The Glenridge was recognized as the area’s Best Retirement Community by Sarasota Magazine for the 14th consecutive year. And when Sarasota once again took Florida’s #1 spot on this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live rankings, it came as no surprise to Glenridge members that that our community really is the best of the best.
But we’ve always believed the best can be even better. In fall, members attended the ribbon-cutting of our brand-new Art Gallery, which showcases the works of Glenridge members and visiting artists in an airy, light-filled space. We also embarked on an expansion of our Fitness Complex to include Bocce Ball and Pickleball, right next to our HAR-TRU® tennis courts – giving members more ways to stay fit while having fun with friends.
When November arrived, our whole community came together for a week of festivities leading up to our 20th anniversary – including fireworks, live music, a barbecue and an elegant gala. also commemorated the occasion with a new addition to our campus: the Veterans & Visionaries Memorial Eagle, an impressive 12-ft.-tall bronze sculpture that pays tribute to our community’s founding and the military service of Glenridge members.
As the year drew to a close, the winter season at our Glenridge Performing Arts Center (GPAC) was just getting started. The beautiful 260-seat theatre welcomed members and visitors alike to enjoy live performances in our state-of-the-art space – now featuring a renovated lobby with a textural teak entryway and electronic marquee.
It’s been a big year at The Glenridge, but there’s so much more on the horizon. Right around the corner is the opening of the Kiltie Grille – a fresh take on our longstanding café that includes gastropub-style cuisine – and in the new year, we’ll continue with the next phase of our Northside Neighborhood expansion. Throughout it all, we’ll do what we’ve always done: dare to dream big.
And that’s why, to this day, life here just keeps getting better here. Find out how you can flourish in a community that’s different by design. Send us a message or give our Life Planning Team a call at 941-552-5369 to schedule your personal tour.
For more information about what life is like at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch – once again named the best senior living community in Sarasota – visit our other blog posts or find us on Facebook.