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 revitalization of the Westside Community Center has taken a long time, but after four years of volunteer work and donations, the historic site could reopen to the public in just a month or two.
Felicia Simmons, president of the Westside Community Center Renovation Association, told the Asbury Park Press that the first floor could be done and open to the public in February. After initially hoping the center could reopen before the end of 2025, “I learned my mistake about putting timelines on it,” Simmons said. “Especially when I don’t know how to do contract work since I don’t know how to swing a hammer.
Greater Asbury Park Historic Revival Project 