Lawrence Township officials hope to wrap up discussions on the future use of the Lawrence Community Center (LCC) at a special Township Council meeting set for June 8 at 6 p.m.
The agenda calls for the final public discussion on the use of the LCC and the issuance of a request for proposals to lease the site at 295 Eggerts Crossing Road. The building was formerly known as the Lawrence Neighborhood Center.
The LCC building has been empty since HomeFront Inc., which had leased the building from Lawrence Township, relocated its services to its expanded headquarters at 1880 Princeton Ave. in October 2024.
HomeFront provides food, shelter, clothing and other assistance to families in need. It offered some of those programs at the Lawrence Community Center, until it decided to consolidate programs and offerings at its Princeton Avenue headquarters.
HomeFront’s actions triggered the need for the Mayor’s Task Force on the Future of the Lawrence Community Center, which was appointed by then-Mayor Patricia Hendricks Farmer. The task force sought community input on the building’s future through a survey, emails and in-person community discussions.
The report, which was issued September 2025, suggested that the Township Council adopt a list of recommendations as guiding principles for a formal strategic plan with timelines, responsibilities and budget scenarios.
Among those recommendations, the LCC should be renamed the Lance Corporal Douglas R. Dickerson Jr. Community and Recreation Center. Dickerson, who grew up in the Eggerts Crossing neighborhood, was killed in action in the Vietnam War in 1967. He was 18 years old.
The report also recommended a township-wide vision that names the Lawrence Community Center as a place for all residents — across age, race, income and neighborhood — while also ensuring special attention to communities with limited access to other resources.
The LCC should become a “vibrant, inclusive hub where all residents are empowered to connect, thrive and grow. Rooted in a legacy of socio-economically disadvantaged communities, the Center fosters equity, learning, recreation and well-being through accessible programs and services,” the report said.
The report also recommended developing strategic partnerships with nonprofits, schools, universities, businesses and philanthropic foundations to collaborate with the Lawrence Community Center to share resources, expertise, funding and governance responsibilities to enhance its offerings and sustainability.
“The people of Lawrence Township should shape the programs, policies and priorities of their community center,” according to the statement of values in the report. “The history and impact of the Lawrence Community Center should be honored through words and actions, and uplift the stories of long-time community members.”
The report recommended installing a permanent exhibit honoring the Lawrence Community Center’s history through reincorporating historic signage. A Legacy Council of long-time residents should be established to guide commemorative programming and story-telling.
A plaque should be installed that names and honors the Lawrence Community Center’s founders.
And finally, the report recommended bi-annual townshipwide meetings to ensure input from under-represented groups.
