Current: Beazley Senior Center is a program of Beazley Foundation, Inc., a private foundation founded in 1948 with funds provided by Mr. Fred W. Beazley, a Portsmouth native and businessman, Marie C. Beazley, his wife, and Fred W. Beazley, Jr., his son, to promote the causes of charity, recreation, education and religion. In 1951, Beazley Foundation established the Beazley Community Center in the Parkview section of Portsmouth. The Center offered a meeting place for adults and recreation for children and consisted of a gymnasium/auditorium, game and locker rooms, swimming pool, lighted playing field and playground. Since the City of Portsmouth began offering recreational programs to children in 1975, the Foundation decided the Community Center transition to a Senior Center. The auditorium remains the same, however, the pool is now a parking lot, the playing field and playground is now a picnic area and garden. An additional 2,300 sq. ft. room was added in 1994 to increase space for the ceramics and pottery programs. The Senior Center offers classes in dance, ceramics, Tai Chi, art, etc. and holds regularly scheduled programs, such as bingo, woodcarving, exercise classes, etc. It is a place where seniors can socialize, be active and creative, relax and have fun! The Senior Center is open to anyone age 55 and older who resides in the City of Portsmouth. Membership is free. Annual operating cost is approximately $425,000.