The Jersey City Armory on Summit Avenue will soon see increased use by the city’s Recreation Department.
"The Recreation Department has gotten a $250,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services," said Jersey City Director of Recreation Bob Hurley. "The grant will allow Jersey City to utilize the Armory as a recreation center."
According to Andrew Williams, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the grant comes from surplus left over from the state’s Welfare program, which has accumulated over the past few years.
"Every year the state of New Jersey gets an appropriation of $404 million from the federal government to help people in need of social services," explained Williams. "In the past few years, we have seen a decline in the over all number of people enrolled in Welfare programs in New Jersey."
Williams cited figures showing a 60 percent drop in Welfare participants in the last five years in New Jersey. "Part of the decline comes from the good stretch we had with the economy," Williams said. "Some of the decline in the numbers is from Welfare reform. What we do have now is surplus of money from the federal government."
Williams said the money was being redirected to other programs, including help for working families and pregnant teens. In the case of Jersey City some of that money is going to the Recreation Department.
"We are looking more toward providing social services than to handing out a one-time benefit," said Williams.
Hurley said the Armory had been used for a number of purposes since its renovation in 1998.
"The National Guard, which operates the Armory, has had some financial problems, so they have rented out the facility," said Hurley. "Movies like ‘A Bronx Tale’ have been filmed there and the Rockettes use it for practice."
Computer, rec center for schools
Hurley said the Armory, which covers a block at the intersection of Summit and Montgomery Street near McGinley Square, would be perfect for use by the Recreation Department for after-school activities.
Earlier in the year, according to Hurley, he and Assistant Recreation Director Ed Ford went to Trenton to secure funding for use of the Armory. Hurley added that State Sen. Bernard Kenny and Assembly Speaker Albio Sires were instrumental in getting the funding for the city.
"We signed the lease in July," stated Hurley.
Along with the grant from the state came the donation of 20 computers from the Department of Human Services.
"The computers are from various Welfare offices around the state," said Williams. "We’re in the process of updating our computer systems. They will be part of the tutoring programs, which will be held at the Armory."
Hurley said the computers are expected at the end of September and will have Internet access.
"The computers will be used for homework and research," said Hurley, adding that computer use would be divided between fourth to sixth graders in one period and middle and high school students in the second period.
"The grade school kids will be able to do their homework there," Hurley said. "The older students will be able to access SAT material and similar information."
Outside basketball, track
Besides the regular after school activities of gym activities and games, the Recreation Department is looking open the Armory to use by outside basketball and track and field teams.
"We would like to see track meets at the Armory," said Hurley. "No indoor track meets have been held there in the last 15 years."
Hurley said new track surface would soon be installed at Armory, which would circle around the three basketball courts in the Armory’s main hall.
"The flat track surface will give runners more traction than the wooden floors in the hall," said Hurley.
Hurley believes that both the space afforded by the Armory and its central location in Jersey City will make it attractive to the track programs of area towns like Hoboken and North Bergen and the colleges in Hudson County.
Hurley is also hoping to attract St. Peter’s College basketball team to the Armory for its home games.
"We wouldn’t say no to that," said Bill Stein, director of athletics at St. Peter’s College.
Although the college has not committed to playing at the Armory, Stein said there were a lot of advantages to playing at the Summit Avenue location.
"I believe the Armory would seat about 7,000 people," Stein said, adding St. Peter’s College did play home basketball games there during the 1960s and 1970s.
"The college built its own basketball facility, Yanitelli Center, about 26 years ago," Stein said. "It seats 3,500 people. Since the state has put some money into the Armory, it does look more attractive."
Hurley stated after school recreation hours at the Jersey City Armory are 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays. The Armory will also be opened two weekends out of the month, but the particular weekends have yet to be established. For more information, call (201) 547-4580.