Friday, March 21, 2025
Nearly two years after Nassau County issued a request for proposal seeking a new operator for the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence, County Executive Bruce Blakeman unveiled a partnership that includes the county, its Police Activities League and the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC.
Outside the building on Lawrence Avenue in Lawrence, Blakeman said the building would be demolished and make way for a facility that will serve everyone. He said he anticipates six months of planning and at least 18 months of construction. Blakeman said he doesn’t expect construction to exceed three years.
The community center has had different iterations and names and served the area for more than 100 years.
“It’s part of the promise that I made when I became County Executive, that we were going to take the Five Towns Community Center and bring it up to a much higher level,” Blakeman said on Dec. 18.
The community center’s 50-year lease ended last July and after the RFP was put out only two bids were received: The JCC and the Lawrence school district. The county assumed control of the property.
Along with the JCC and PAL, Blakeman said Operation Overwatch, a unit of the county police department, would be headquartered at the building that will remain in operation for the time being and then at the new facility.
County Legislature Presiding Officer Howard Kopel, who represents he Five Towns, helped to propel the project forward.
“It’s an anchor for this area,” Kopel said about the community center, a project that he added the county executive got excited about.
The JCC will be investing at least $10 million for new amenities, including a new gymnasium and a swimming pool.
“From infants to older adults, we are there for all of life’s challenges and life’s joys,” Stacey Feldman, executive director of the JCC said. “Through the years as it he needs of the residents have grown so have the services and programs we have offered.”
The new facility will include ¾ after-school activities, expanded programming for seniors, gymnasiums, and new opportunities for those who are neurodiverse, a pool, along with offices, meeting rooms and playrooms.
“We wanted to continue an athletic program that was open to everybody in the community, nobody does it better in Nassau County than our Police Athletic League,” Blakeman said.
Starting next month, Feldman said she would begin meeting with community members at coffee spots to hear what they want and need from the JCC.
She encourages community members to email myjcc@guraljcc.org to share their thoughts, suggestions and ideas.
