WOODBRIDGE — The township has secured a $1.5 million recreational facilities special needs state grant for level playing fields and fully accessible recreational facilities at the Cypress Recreation Center in the Port Reading section of Woodbridge.
Mayor John E. McCormac said the leadership of Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-Middlesex), along with state Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), was instrumental in Woodbridge securing the funding for the innovative and unique project which will provide recreational facilities to the special needs population.
The Cypress Recreation Center on West Avenue is home to the Our House program, a private, nonprofit organization that provides innovative program, employment and recreational services to individuals who have developmental disabilities.
In January, officials including McCormac, Michele DelCorsano, president and CEO of Our House Inc., Tara Johnson, director of Our House at the Cypress Recreation Center, members of the Township Council, municipal officials, parents and adults with specials needs at the center, gathered for a grand opening of Our House Inc. and Hope Autism Solutions.
Our House programs and facilities across the state offer an environment that supports career development through vocational exploration, community integration and interpersonal skill development. The site in Woodbridge is the fifth location for Our House.
The proposed custom-designed fields and facilities will include wheelchair access ramps and equipment that is fully compliant with federal, state, county and municipal safety standards.
The fields will be usable for baseball, softball and soccer, plus a track around the entire complex that will afford special needs citizens the opportunity to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of sports participation, according to McCormac.
Coughlin said the state Grants-In-Aid program provides funding for projects that have wide-ranging benefits to the community.
“In this case, the $1.5 million in state aid will allow Woodbridge to move forward with construction of special needs facilities that will benefit not only Woodbridge residents, but everyone visiting the Our House program at the Cypress Recreation Center,” he said.
Lopez said it is extremely important that the state invests in projects like the Cypress Recreation Center.
“I look forward to the development that will be taking place at the field and the many benefits it will provide,” she said.
Ward 3 Councilman Cory Spillar said township parks and recreation facilities are a showcase and, with the addition of the level playing fields, the township recreation facilities will be even better, offering more opportunities for everyone in the community.
Councilman-at-Large Brian Small added the Cypress Recreation Center is the perfect place for this facility since 24 adults with special needs are there every day.
LINK: https://www.hopeautismfoundation.org/has-locations