Greater Asbury Park Historic Revival Project
To revive the Greater Asbury Park region of Monmouth County, New Jersey
About
In 1942, the Westside Community Center was founded in Asbury Park, New Jersey as the successor to the Urban League. Rev. John Ashby, Lorenzo W. Harris Sr., Leonard J. Martin, and William Griffin were its founding leaders. Located on Dewitt Ave, its building was the former home of Dr. William J. Parks, a prominent African-American doctor in the community. The organization was dedicated to the promotion of the moral, spiritual, physical, social, and mental welfare of Asbury Park’s Westside, a predominately African-American community.
Since 2022, Wcc Historic Renovation Association Inc. has taken on ownership of the Westside Community Center to improve the lives of the youth and families by providing education and resources, health and wellness, leadership and career training.
On November 6th, 2024, Wcc Historic Renovation Association Inc. convened a community meeting at the Ballard United Methodist Church to discuss the issues in Asbury Park and develop solutions to better serve the community.
Thus, the Greater Asbury Park Historic Revival Project was born to revive the Greater Asbury Park region of Monmouth County, New Jersey and unify the broader community in the pursuit of self-reliance and good self-governance.
Partners & Supporters
- Wcc HISTORIC RENOVATION ASSOCIATION INC
- BALLARD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
- PROPER FOUNDATION
- MONMOUTH/OCEAN COUNTY NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK
- ELORM OCANSEY MINISTRY FOUNDATION
- BE TRUE PODCAST
In the news
ASBURY PARK — The Westside Community Center Renovation Association will host the Westside Black History Celebration 2025 on Feb. 21, and the nonprofit plans to sign multiple agreements that will bring trade classes and community outreach offices to the historic center with hopes to reopen to the public later this year.
Felicia Simmons, president of the association, told the Asbury Park Press that the nonprofit plans to sign agreements with the Regional Carpenters Union, the nonprofit NJSTEPS (Solutions To End Poverty Soon), and the Essex Community Land Trust, a nonprofit affordable housing organization founded by state Sen. Britnee N. Timberlake, D-Essex.
Greater Asbury Park Historic Revival Project 