In the spring of 2000, a group of concerned citizens initiated discussions between parents, students and community members regarding the rise among young people in drug, tobacco and alcohol use and well as criminal mischief. At that time, a study entitled Juvenile Offenders & Victims: 1999 National Report showed illicit drug use by juveniles had increased since the early 1990’s, and alcohol use, while level, remained high. This same study found that a high percentage of juvenile crimes occurred in the hours immediately after the close of school, as did crimes against juvenile victims. These concerns, coupled with the increase in youth crime and gang related activities in nearby Suffolk County communities, prompted a desire locally for youth based programs which offer an alternative to involvement in risk-taking behaviors, emphasize violence prevention and diversity tolerance, and encourage civic pride and personal responsibility.

While existing local programs provided well supervised activities for a certain segment of our youth population, a gap was identified regarding activities targeting youth ages 12-19 in particular. The lack of activities which meet the diverse needs of this population coupled with the absence of a safe, well supervised environment where teens could meet, increased their risk of drug and alcohol use, as well as involvement in criminal mischief and gang like activities. Local residents felt that one of the ways to prevent the spread of negative behavior among local teens was to create a safe, well supervised place for al residents to meet and develop healthy relationships. In March of 2000, Moriches Community Center was incorporated.