Nassau County will not be renewing the lease on the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence, raising concerns about what changes could be coming under a new operator.

The center has been serving the community for decades, with a food pantry that officials say serves over 1,000 people a week, and has free after-school programs.

The fallout from concerns over the changing of hands has been of evident for many months, with protests and emotional pleas being made by community members earlier this year. This came after the county announced in January that it was seeking proposals from nonprofits.

Concerns about the state of the property have been among the reasons for the county planning to move on from its lease.

Nassau County is now looking for a tenant who can provide after-school programs, preschool programs, youth athletics and a new soccer field. A spokesperson for the county says there are no plans to cut services, since they are seeking a tenant who can still provide them.

The search for a new tenant will continue, with the county’s 50-year lease expiring in July 2024.