There was a full house June 27 at Oxford Township’s new senior center in Seymour Lake Park.

Eighty-six senior citizens showed up to enjoy lunch, provided by Independence Village of Waterstone, and learn about the 3,126-square-foot facility built to provide them with a comfortable public space to gather, socialize and recreate.

“I love it. This is a nice setup,” said 87-year-old Oxford resident Maureen Therrian, who noted the center is spacious and bright, yet still feels “very homey.”

Dawn Medici, the recreation specialist who oversees the center, told the crowd “it’s open to anybody, anytime” between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

She noted the cupboards are filled with books, magazines, puzzles, board games and card games, all just waiting to be explored.

“Be nosy and help yourself,” Medici told the audience.

For those who want to be involved in a group activity, there’s a walking group that meets every Wednesday at 9 a.m. Members walk 2 or 3 miles around the park, then gather back at the senior center for coffee and assorted baked goods.

There’s also line dancing and a bridge group. With regard to the latter, Medici warned, “You do need to know how to play bridge because it’s a hard game.”

There are plans to offer bridge-for-beginners sessions in the fall.

The rainy weather over the spring prevented developing the green space around the center, but Medici assured bocce ball courts, shuffleboard courts and horseshoe pits are coming.

When asked what he liked about the new senior center, George Rossbach, of Oxford, replied, “Everything.”

“It’s pretty nice,” said the World War II veteran who fought in Europe as part of the U.S. Army infantry.

Rossbach, a widower, is particularly interested in participating in group activities.

His daughter Ann Heiser, of Clarkston, said she’s been looking for ways to “get him out of the house” and socializing. She would also like to see him get involved in some exercise programs.

“I don’t know about the exercise. I walked enough in the infantry,” retorted Rossbach.

Therrian likes the fact that Oxford seniors now have “a beautiful place to meet.”

“We needed it,” she said.

Therrian spent 28 years in Troy, tending to her family of four, before moving to the Stony Lake Village condo development in Waterstone.

“I really like it better up here,” she said. “It’s (got) more of a small-town feeling and that’s what I like.”