The Abbey Senior Center

407 W. St. Charles Road
General Information, Phone: (630) 993-8193
Seniors Information, Phone: (630) 993-8961
Email The Abbey for more information!
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Located at 407. W. St Charles Rd.,The ABBEY has been established by the Elmhurst Park District as a leisure center for active, older, fun-loving adults in the community. In addition to providing a variety of exciting leisure activities, The ABBEY also acts as a valuable resource providing social service programs such as Rules Of The Road Defensive Driving assistance, informational seminars, and more. We offer a wide variety of classes, parties, day trips, extended trips, and clubs to encourage friendship, socialization, and healthy activity.

The Abbey has a long heritage of community, dating back to World War II. During the 1940¹s, teenagers sought a place to hang out, beyond churches and schools. The building held social events, operated by volunteers and funded by Community Chest (a fundraising organization), for the next 12 years. In November 1952 there was a groundbreaking for the present facility, then known as the ³Youth Center,² while the dedication was held the following year in October 1953.

The building traded owners in 1964 from the Elmhurst Youth Center, Inc. to the Elmhurst Park District. The name changed shortly after to "The Abbey" in 1967. The teenagers using the building chose the name from a list of eight names because at the time they were seeking a name that implied a coffee house atmosphere. Under the Park District¹s control, the facility has been used primarily for activities and events for community senior citizens since 1974.

Abbey Activity Groups

Many activity groups meeting at The Abbey are looking for new faces. If you are interested, please call The Abbey to get more information or just drop in. If there is a new group that you would like to see formed, please let us know so that we can start an interest list. Don't be bashful - join the fun and camaraderie offered at The Abbey.

Volunteer Opportunities

Looking to spend less time in the house and more time with others? Some people volunteer for long-term projects while others help on a seasonal or one-time basis. Most opportunities include social interaction with others. E-mail the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@epd.org for more information and a list of opportunities including greenhouse, special events, mailers, and more.

Upcoming Trips

Email The Abbey for more information!
*All trips leave from The ABBEY
Additional Trips

See the Trip Section of our On-Line Brochure.

The Abbey Membership

Become an Abbey member and receive the monthly Abbey Newsletter, which contains valuable information regarding activities, previews of trips/tours, and priority registration. The fee for residents is $10 and $15 for non-residents for a single membership. A joint membership for two people living in the same household is available at a discounted price of $15 for residents and $25 for non-residents. If you would like more information about becoming a member, call The Abbey at (630) 993-8193. Membership includes opportunities for valuable coupons and savings in programs.