JACKSON-The Jackson Township council approved a very exorbitant $140,000 project paid for through the community development block grant to upgrade the facility’s bathrooms on Tuesday.
“Improvements to restroom facilities at the Jackson Township Senior Center focusing on greater ADA accessibility. The approximate value of this grant is $140,000. Projects will be listed by priority based on availability of funds,” read the ordinance which was unanimously approved by the council.
In 2015, a similar grant in the amount of $139,000 was approved by the council to build a 24’x34′ addition on the facility, before that a grant was used to install an on-site generator and other usability features on the building.
Despite the ongoing heroin epidemic in Jackson and the need for a Youth Center, Jackson Township said the grant could not be used for youth services facilities. There are no plans at this time to build a youth services center in Jackson Township or to co-locate a youth services program within the senior center.
Jackson Township remains the largest township in Ocean County without a youth services center.
In many neighboring towns such as Brick Township and Howell Township the township have partnered with the Police Athletic League to create self-sustainable youth service facilities. Toms River Township has a fully function youth services department and a youth services center located on North Bay Avenue.
Historically, Jackson Township elections are won by catering to the township large and growing senior citizen populations.
