LACEY – A YMCA in Southern Ocean County may be on the horizon, and township officials are asking the public to help decide whether the vision becomes a reality.
A community needs assessment survey is now open online through October 7. Officials hope the results will help determine whether Lacey residents, and their neighbors in surrounding towns, want to move forward with the YMCA collaboration. Participants are encouraged to provide candid feedback, and each completed survey enters the respondent into a drawing for a $100 ShopRite gift card.
Mayor Peter A. Curatolo framed the process as more than just a checkbox exercise. “This is our opportunity to come together to guide the next phase of Lacey life,” Curatolo said. “We want to better understand how a potential community recreation center can support healthy lifestyles for residents of all ages, from infants to seniors.”
Not Just For Lacey Residents
While the survey is hosted by Lacey Township, it’s not limited to local residents. Veronica Laureigh, Township Administrator, told The Southern Ocean Times that anyone with an interest in the project can participate.
“There’s a spot on the survey where you can identify your neighborhood in Lacey,” Laureigh said. “But there’s also an option for people who live elsewhere. Whether you’re from Barnegat, Waretown, or beyond – your input matters.”
The YMCA functions like a gym membership, open to anyone, regardless of where they live. If the project advances, nonresidents would be just as eligible to join.
If the township and YMCA ultimately decide to move forward, the facility would be constructed on 11 acres of township-owned land between Gille Park and the Wawa on Lacey Road. That location is central and easily accessible for residents from multiple communities.
Unlike municipal recreation centers restricted to town residents, the YMCA would function as a nonprofit health and wellness hub, open to anyone who pays the membership fee.
Right now, the only place in the region with an indoor pool for exercise and lessons is the St. Francis Community Center on Long Beach Island. Officials say the new facility could address that longstanding gap in Southern Ocean County, especially for families, seniors, and athletes seeking year-round aquatic options.
Early Stages
Laureigh stressed that no taxpayer dollars are being used to fund the survey and planned professional analysis.
Instead, Lacey issued a request for proposals (RFP) and selected DBD Group, a national firm with experience in community-based planning. The contract is being paid through funds the township received from the state’s opioid litigation settlement, earmarked specifically for projects that enhance public health and wellness.
“This is a community needs assessment,” Laureigh explained. “It was important that we did this the right way, through a public contract process and without putting the burden on taxpayers.”
The use of settlement money also reflects the township’s broader effort to reinvest those funds into long-term wellness and prevention initiatives.
Regina Discenza, who regularly attends government meetings, raised questions during a recent Township Committee meeting. She pointed out that many seniors may not be familiar with QR codes (on a printed flyer and the town’s website) and requested that a direct survey link be posted on the township website and Facebook page. Officials agreed and said they would ensure both options were available.
Discenza also pressed the committee for details on how the YMCA facility itself would be financed. “Of course, a recreation center and a senior center is on everyone’s wish list,” she said. “But is there any idea yet how it’s supposed to be paid for?”
Deputy Mayor Steven Kennis responded that the township is still in the exploratory phase. “Right now, we’re just doing we’re taking the survey and seeing the pulse of the public.”
Another long time resident Tony Risoli suggested considering programs like PAL (Police Athletic League) to foster after-school activities and youth-police engagement. Laureigh recalled that Lacey attempted a PAL program in the 1990s, but it failed to take off. The YMCA, she said, already offers a robust slate of intergenerational programs that could serve the same purpose, without the township needing to build staffing and infrastructure from scratch.
What The YMCA Brings
Laurie Goganzer, President and CEO of YMCA of the Jersey Shore, welcomed the possibility of a new partnership.
“The Y’s focus areas are to encourage healthy living for all, nurture the potential of youth, and build lasting social connections,” Goganzer said. “We would welcome the opportunity to help strengthen the health and well-being of township residents.”
Beyond recreation, YMCA facilities often host mental health support, senior programming, and community-building initiatives – something local officials said they only recently learned through informational sessions.
“I always thought of the Y as just a gym and pool,” Kennis admitted. “But the scope of their programs is much broader, everything from wellness to youth development to partnerships with schools.”
The survey is only the first step. In addition to the public feedback, the needs assessment will include interviews this fall with leaders in education, healthcare, business, and civic life. A community leaders’ forum is scheduled for early 2026, where preliminary findings will be shared.
Whether the YMCA partnership results in expanded programming, a new building, or just targeted services remains to be seen. Officials stressed that the project could take different forms depending on community interest and financial feasibility.
How To Participate
Residents and nonresidents alike can complete the survey online through October 7 by visiting laceytownship.org or the township’s Facebook page. Paper copies are also available through the Recreation Department by emailing lacey.recreation@laceytownship.org
The survey is confidential, and responses are not individually tracked.
