BRICK – After being closed for five years, the Township welcomed local youth to the reopening of the Brick Township Teen Center.
The Teen Center, located at the Civic Plaza, first opened its doors in 2017 when it was formerly known as the “Lounge 270 Teen Center.” Operations were forced to cease in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the space was left untouched – until Mayor Lisa Crate’s plan to transform the center.
“When I was elected mayor in November 2023, because I was a teacher, one of the things that I wanted to do was reopen this place,” Crate said. “When I came in, every single wall was white and there was a cruddy old carpet. It was not really in great shape and it was kind of neglected for the last several years, sitting empty.”
As you walk into the new Teen Center, you’re transported into a warm and welcoming atmosphere decorated with vibrant, fun murals. Crate said they took inspiration from teens and published a survey asking what they wanted to space to look like.
Brick Township officially reopened the Teen Center. (Photo by Alyssa Riccardi)
“We took everything down and we asked the kids what they were looking for. Last summer, I spent from the end of June until the end of August in here just working on the murals, working on the walls, getting the colors in, making it welcoming and figuring out what furniture we needed in here,” Crate said.
The revitalized space features Apple computers, board and video games, puzzles, arts and crafts, foosball, pop-a-shot basketball and dedicated homework spaces. Open to all Brick residents in grades 6 through 12, the center is completely free to attend and offers something for everyone.
While the Teen Center is only open during the school year, September through June, the Township plans to use the space in the summer for special events like movie nights, open mic nights, craft sessions and more.
“The mayor and I are really proud of how we transformed the space,” said Brandi White, Coordinator of the Mayor’s Student Advisory Committee. “There’re so many ideas that we have in mind for the Teen Center. The Flower Bar had a great idea to host a bouquet making class and are willing to donate their time and the materials. The library has a youth group that they’ve asked about using [the center] instead of them meeting up a library for their book club, they can meet here.”
Local librarians expressed their excitement for the Teen Center and are looking forward to the opportunities of collaborating with the Township.
Two girls send their time playing Wii Tennis at the Brick Township Teen Center. (Photo by Alyssa Riccardi)
“This is very exciting for the community,” Sade Puik from the Brick Library said. “We hope to start a book club and a mobile craft class. Lots of different options, and even in the future we will be able to do a pop-up library and we could give out library cards to the kids.”
“It’s nice that everyone wants to collaborate. There was a lot of worry that the spaces will be at war, but instead it’s just an opportunity to grow more outside the library, so that’s fun,” Kaitlyn Inderwies from the Brick Library said.
The Township held a grand ribbon cutting to mark the official reopening of the Teen Center. The occasion welcomed many organizations from the Brick community as well as a number of teens testing out the games and socializing in the new space.
Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace presented a certificate to Brick Township recognizing its efforts to provide teenagers a safe and support of environment.
“It’s an honor to be here, to see the township doing such great work and all the volunteers and members of the community contributing to one another,” Arace said.
The grand opening of the Teen Center had local students trying out the new amenities. (Photo by Alyssa Riccardi)
The Township also welcomed Emily Napolitano who will be the Teen Center Director.
“It took about six months to find the right person for the position,” Crate said. “We needed somebody who wants to plan activities, wants to work with kids, is good with kids. Once we found Emily, we knew we had a good fit.”
In addition to fun and activities, the Teen Center will also offer volunteer opportunities, leadership workshops and youth-focused programs that help teens grow into confident, community-minded individuals. Local youth groups are welcome to use the space for meetings and events. Any group interested in booking space should contact Brandi White at 732-262-1053.
The Teen Center is open Mondays through Fridays from 2 to 7 p.m.
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