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Though Northern New Jersey is home to all kinds of diverse attractions and activities, from globally-inspired restaurants to the many historical museums and parks, truly inclusive spaces that accommodate all needs are far and few between. LifeTown, a fully accessible center featuring a simulated town square with shops, sidewalks, parks, and traffic lights, as well as an indoor playground, sensory room, aquatic center, and much more, continues to fill that void in the Essex County community. On January 22nd, Livingston locals and renowned bowlers Parker Bohn III and Johnny Petraglia joined LifeTown at 10 Microlab Road to celebrate the opening of its newest addition, a bowling alley intentionally designed for people with disabilities. Read on for what we know about LifeTown in Livingston and the newest attraction to its center.
The Details
Any bowler knows what to expect upon entering a bowling alley: overwhelmingly loud music blaring from speakers, the jarring thud of balls hitting the lane, and tons of energetic children and their families bustling about the space. For these reasons and more, LifeTown, a 53,000-square-foot all-inclusive center under nonprofit Friendship Circle New Jersey, created its own three-lane bowling alley for neurodivergent people. After months of waiting, the attraction finally opened at 10 Microlab Road, Livingston on January 22nd, 2025.
What makes this bowling alley different from any other spot is its customizable aids, like wheelchair ramps and bumpers, and acoustical engineering. It also prides itself on being a low-stimulation space, even with its colorful lights that line each lane and interactive floor animations.
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The grand opening of this new feature was not the only exciting aspect of this event. USBC Halls of Fame members Parker Bohn III, a New Jersey native and professional ten-pin bowler, and Johnny Petraglia, winner of 14 PBA Tour titles and eight PBA Senior Tour titles, came to show their support. “We are all built differently. We are all, more importantly, our own individual," Parker Bohn III said during the event, as per a Patch article. "The smiles that are going to be put on faces, they will last for a lifetime."
About LifeTown
The creation of LifeTown, a project of Friendship Circle New Jersey, was inspired by the inclusive teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, also known as Lubavitcher Rebbe, one of the most prominent Jewish leaders of the 20th century.
At LifeTown, neurodiverse people and their families can look forward to the many amenities it provides, which include an indoor playground, sensory room, art center, tactile room gym, aquatic center, and a model NFL + NY Jets football field, which can be a fun activity during the upcoming football season.
Those looking to test out their life skills can also check out LifeTown's largest and most notable amenity, the Life Village, a simulated town square featuring streets, traffic lights, a park, sidewalks, and shops. Guests can find a life-like movie theater, bookstore + cafe, bank, pet shop, and more.
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