Oak Crest Celebrates 20 Years in Style

PARKVILLE, MD—Despite the biggest winter storm of the season, the show went on at Oak Crest.

During the snowy evening of March 5, the Erickson Living retirement community celebrated its 20th anniversary in style, as residents enjoyed elegant dinners and champagne toasts throughout the campus.

The main event occurred in Erickson Hall. Forty residents and eighteen employees—those "pioneers" who moved or began working at Oak Crest in 1995—were the guests of honor at a dinner ceremony that blended a nostalgic look back with a glimpse to the future.

Dignitaries included John Erickson, the founder of Oak Crest's original developer and manager, Erickson Retirement Communities, and James Anders, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Oak Crest Village, Inc.

"It was never just about 'building buildings,'" stated Mr. Erickson. "It was about building a sense of community and opportunity for our residents to celebrate life."

Gary Hibbs is the Executive Director of Oak Crest. "The community and connection that Mr. Erickson envisioned over twenty years ago has come to full fruition. It's been a privilege to be a small part of Oak Crest, and tonight is the preface to a great future. The past really is prologue."

Two pioneers--resident James Wetzel and employee Laurie Bender, a resident of Carney and currently the Move-In Coordinator, provided reflections on their twenty-year ties to Oak Crest. 

The evening concluded with a twelve-minute video produced by WOCV, the community's in-house television network, and the unveiling of a framed original of the inaugural edition of The Village Voice, the first resident-created news publication.

A History of Engagement in Northeast Baltimore County

During the spring of 1994, construction workers cleared the old Campbell Quarry site adjacent to Joppa Road. A few months later, on June 20, the ground-breaking took place for what would become the 87-acre campus.

In less than ten months, on March 1, 1995, the first resident moved into the Walden Court resident building and dined in the Banners Café. Since then, Oak Crest has grown to over 2,100 residents, served by 1,250 full & part-time employees.

Residents have contributed over $2.3 million to the Student Scholarship Fund and, in 2014 alone, logged over 100,000 hours of volunteer service for their peers and worthy causes in Baltimore and around the world. They've participated in thousands of worship services in the Oak Crest Chapel, created hundreds of social & service clubs and enjoyed many meals together (nearly one million served in 2014).

As the community welcomes new generations, Oak Crest's long-term planning will feature enhanced technology like campus-wide Wi Fi and new health & wellness programming venues for residents.

About Oak Crest: Oak Crest is one of eighteen continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living. Located in Parkville, Maryland the scenic 87-acre campus is home to more than 2,100 residents. Oak Crest is the ideal greater Baltimore retirement destination offering a true sense of community, convenience beyond compare and a sensible financial structure. 

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