The historic Westside Community Center may reopen in Asbury Park later this year

“The Westside Community Center had long been a central gathering place and trusted space for Asbury Park and Neptune residents, especially the Black community. Located on Dewitt Avenue right off of Springwood Avenue, the house was owned by the first Black practicing doctor in Asbury Park, William J. Parks, who donated his house to the community in 1942. The gym was added in 1962.

Over the next several decades, the Westside Community Center offered job training, as well as drum and bugle corps, marching drill teams, Boy and Girl Scout troops, Bible study, afterschool programming, tutorials, daycare, dance, community talent shows and eventually computer literacy courses. But later mismanagement let the building and gym fall into a state of idle disrepair.”