District 3 council member Cindy Chavez was able to allocate funding to keep the Alma center open for at least one more year.

San Jose city staff proposed merging Alma and Gardner senior programs because of their proximity. The idea was also considered because Gardner's facility was renovated in 2004, making it capable of handling a large senior program.

San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Superintendent Angel Rios Jr. said the city was looking at its older community centers and seeing how they could be reused. Alma is one of the older and smaller centers in San Jose. During the next 11Ž2 years, the city will review each center and focus on finding alternative uses.

Willow Glen resident Kevin Christman said that although keeping both centers open was good for the communities, there were benefits for the seniors sharing time in one location.

"I wish we could have had more input from the seniors from Alma," he said. "They really liked coming over once a week and getting that good Mexican food."

Christman says he hopes that the seniors continue to visit the Gardner center and its community members.