Johnson Park Center Time Line

1995 - November - We moved into Johnson Park.

1996 - To reach out further and help needy families fight hunger and food insecurity, JCTOD opens a Food Pantry at 26 Johnson Park.

1996 - August - JCTOD opens the warm season outdoor neighborhood basketball playground providing a safe place for many neighborhood youth and sponsoring wholesome activities during the summer months with a snack.

1996 - August - Outdoor Basketball Playground opened

1996 - September - JCTOD receives a City of Utica Home grant for the renovation of 1402 West Street.

1996 - October - JCTOD is awarded a grant from the New York State Housing and Homeless Assistance Program (HHAP) to develop Permanent Supportive Housing for low-income homeless women and families with special needs.

1997 - June - JCTOD opened a transitional housing program for women with substance abuse/mental health disabilities who desired to be re-united with their children at 102 West Street.

1997 - August - JCTOD received a City of Utica Home Grant for the renovation of 1404 West Street that was used in 1998 as a Home for Children while their mothers were in treatment.

1998 - March - JCTOD also took title of 17 Johnson Park from the City of Utica to be used as a part of the JPA I project, and 1406 West Street which is an overflow play area for the Youth Center.

1998 - September - JCTOD expanded the Youth Program to a year-round indoor/outdoor Youth Enrichment Center providing recreation, education and life skill training that promoted literacy, learning and school success and also provides the necessary discipline to enable youth to strive and achieve positive life goals. Transportation home and healthy snack-meals were also provided.

1999 - January - The Food Pantry moved to 1404 West Street. The JCTOD Food Pantry was and is the only facility in the City of Utica open in the evenings.

2001 - With a lot of help from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County, and farmers in the Watertown area, JCTOD opens the Let's Grow Community Garden at 1409-11 West Street, where children can grow their own fruits and vegetables to take home.

2003 - May - After many years of project development, JCTOD opens Johnson Park Apartments (JPA) I at 19 Johnson Park. This former drug house is now home to 6 units of Permanent Supportive Housing.

Working with the HomeOwnership Center Weed and Seed Program, JCTOD pioneers Utica's First Youth Block Association, which empowers youth to be actively involved in the revitalization of their neighborhood. JCTOD is named the Youth Safe Haven for this comprehensive community crime prevention strategy.

JCTOD and Weed and Seed also work together to offer Leadership Development Training for youth ages 9-16. The "Youth Voice Initiative" encourages and trains young people to speak up and be leaders and positive role models. The Youth Voice Initiative encourages other youth not to use tobacco, illegal drugs, or alcohol and to resist crime, not to become members of gangs and youth violence.

2004 - JCTOD opens Oneida County's first family shelter, where traditional and non-traditional low-income families can be referred by the Oneida County Department of Social Services to stay together during a crisis. We accept families of any composition.

2004 - JCTOD receives another grant from HHAP to create 3 additional units of permanent supportive housing (JPA II) at 15 Johnson Park. JCTOD also purchased 13 Johnson Park from the City of Utica as part of the development site.

2005 - JCTOD receives additional support from the City of Utica and Bank of Utica to develop 6 more units (JPA III).

2005 - April - JPA III housing units open in the Spring and Fall at 16-18 Johnson Park and 201 Square Street.

2005 - September - JPA III housing units open at 16 Johnson Park.

2005 - JCTOD becomes an official Youth Feeding Site under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) of the New York State Department of Health, allowing us to server nutritious meals to children each day of our Youth Center.

2006 - In partnership with the Oneida County Workforce Investment Board, JCTOD launches the Second Chance Program, offering ongoing advocacy, mentoring/life coaching, focus and support groups, and pre & post employment opportunities for ex-offenders and Cornhill residents.

2006 - JCTOD begins offering transportation services for families to help remove barriers to treatment, family reunification, and dealing with the smaller needs of daily life.

2006 - With funding from the Utica National Foundation, JCTOD launches the "LeapFrog" early literacy and technological training program, with components both at home and at the Youth Center to help Cornhill children prepare for success in school and in life.

2006 - JCTOD receives a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Compassion Capital Fund to build Development and Asset Management Capacity in the area of homeless services.

2006 - December - JCTOD is proud to announce the opening of Johnson Park Apartments II, located at 15 Johnson Park, with a gala event and ribbon cutting.

2007 - With support from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the United Way of Greater Utica, JCTOD begins to offer a Family Specialist Program, working with the residents of Johnson Park Apartments to reach out and strengthen families, build home living skills, and prevent family violence and neglect.

2007 - JCTOD receives second Compassion Capital Fund grant to build capacity in the area of youth services.

2007 - JCTOD receives a grant from the NYS HHAP to create 8 one-bedroom, and/or efficiency units to provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless women without children who have mental health as a primary disability. This program will reach out especially those living in shelters, hotels/motels, recently released out of jail and living on the streets. It will be known as Johnson Park Apartments IV.

2007 - JCTOD Outreach, Inc. officially adopts the DBA of "Johnson Park Center" ("JPC" for short) to clarify for a wider audience our mission, values, and service area, as well as to emphasize our separation from the JCTOD Church (The Lord Jesus Christ Tabernacle of David, Inc.)

2008 - February - JPC was designated as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). JPC purchased with a grant from the City of Utica Home Program, 1420 West Street and 210-212 Arthur Street. This was a major victory as, finally, the slumlord, drug dealers and gang leaders no longer lived on that corner. Two years earlier there were two young men killed at 1420 West Street. We hope that this corner will now change to be a place of hope.

2008 - October - Johnson Park Aprtments I,II,III was honored as the "2008 Upstate Supportive Housing Residence of the Year" by the Supportive Housing Network of New York

2009 - April - recieved the "Community Impact Award" from the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties

2009 - August - Had the Grand Opening of Johnson Park Apartments IV located at 141-16 West Street and 1420 West Strrt serving chronic homeless single women without children and the Dedication of the Ricky Powell and Brian West Memorial Plaza on the corner of Arthur & West Street.