Cathy Hopper Friendship Center

Named after the late Cathy Hopper who was instrumental in the center’s founding in the 1970s, The Cathy Hopper Friendship Center operated for decades under the management of local nonprofit organizations, the last of which shut its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Located adjacent to the North Clairemont Park complex along Bannock Avenue, senior citizens in the area expressed the need for the return of activities and programming that had been lost when the center shuttered. The City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department answered the call and began operating the center in March 2023 through the AgeWell Services program.

In 2021, the City’s Age Friendly San Diego Action Plan was adopted, a plan that identifies and promotes improvements that help make Park and Recreation facilities and programs more supportive of not only older adult residents, but people of all ages. Providing programming at facilities like The Cathy Hopper Friendship Center helps increase the quality of life for participants who have the opportunity to take part in an array of programs, services and activities.

A robust menu of activities and programs happen each day at the center, including coffee service, art and writing classes, fitness programs such as walking and yoga, line dancing, games, movies, and special presentations on topics of interest like legal matters and caregiving. Card and table games like Bingo, Bridge and Mah Jongg are also very popular at the center, with sessions scheduled throughout the summer. Participants can even learn to play the ukulele with a class scheduled weekly starting in July. Programs and classes are free or low cost, with partial scholarships available for some fee-based activities.