Long Branch Begins Converting Ronald McDonald House Into Health Center, Library Branch, Pickleball Courts

LONG BRANCH, NJ — Last Friday, Sept. 19 the city of Long Branch officially started converting the former Ronald McDonald House at the corner of Bath and Third avenues into the city's new Health, Wellness and Technology Center.

The Ronald McDonald House, which provided free housing for families of sick children being treated nearby at Monmouth Medical Center, closed in 2022, to the dismay of some families that used the house.

The building and the surrounding land — valued at approximately $30 million — are owned by RWJBarnabas Health, which donated the building/lot to the city of Long Branch in 2021.

The building, which was originally a private mansion from the Gilded Age, will be converted to include many new public amenities, including a gym for Long Branch residents, a yoga/Zumba/dance studio, a commercial kitchen, a podcasting studio free for use by city residents, a railroad museum, plus various city offices.

The city will also build a new public park next door. The park will be just under four acres and is one of the largest new parks built in Long Branch in the past 50 years. The park will have:

• Pickleball courts
• A playground and a tot lot
• An outdoor fitness area
• Walking trails
• A seasonal outdoor café kiosk
• A brand new amphitheater for concerts and community events

The whole project is expected to be completed within the next 12 to 15 months.

The new Health and Technology Center will retain the large covered porch, grand staircase and distinctive decorative tower the Ronald McDonald House was known for. Historic elements inside, including a restored parlor with handcrafted paneling and the stone fireplace, will also be preserved.

Once it opens in 2026 (or early 2027), the Health and Technology Center will have:

• Lower level: A full-service fitness center offering cardio and strength equipment, as well as studios for yoga, Zumba and dance. A unique Long Branch Railroad Museum will also be located on the bottom floor, and will showcase model trains and historic artifacts from the New York and Long Branch Railroad.
• On the main floor: A commercial teaching kitchen for cooking classes and dietary programs for residents of all ages.
• Top floor: Community meeting rooms and offices for city and non-profit health service providers. Long Branch Mayor John Pallone previously said he envisions this building will be a place where the community can access public health information, such as get free vaccines and COVID shots, and have access to computers and free WiFi.

The smaller building next door will house the new satellite branch of the Long Branch Public Library, and will have:

• Brand-new computers, free WiFi and digital workspaces
• Resources for job seekers, students and residents who might not speak English as their first language, or not have Internet at home.
• A professional podcasting studio, open for community use

Prior: City Takeover Of Long Branch Ronald McDonald House Upsets Families (2022)