EAST GREENWICH — The East Greenwich Township Environmental Commission and Township Committee are pleased to announce that the Commission has once again been awarded a $10,000 grant through Sustainable Jersey and the PSEG Foundation.
Several months ago, the Commission, the Committee and the Department of Public works began collaborative planning on a multi-phase expansion of the ongoing rehabilitation of Mickleton Park, located on Democrat Road. The expansion will continue the park’s overall theme of environmental education and native ecosystems, and will add in elements of sustainable recreation and active learning.
When complete, the new area of the park will feature an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant playground, accessible parking and facilities, an outdoor classroom and learning area, a dedicated reading area supplied with little libraries, a dog park, and passive recreation space. All parts will be accessible via pathway throughout.
The first round of expansion will focus on the ADA-accessible playground and the reading center. The grant moneys will be used for the reading center, to purchase and construct a covered gazebo and the little libraries that will hold literature.
“East Greenwich is deeply invested in keeping our community clean, green, and healthy,” said Mayor Dale Archer. “The Township Committee, The Environmental Commission, and the Public Works Department have been collaborating for months on planning this next phase in the redevelopment of Mickleton Park.
“We will continue to focus development on safe and accessible recreation, education, sustainability, and native plant life. I am grateful to Sustainable Jersey and the PSEG Fund for seeing the value in our inclusion of an outdoor reading center as a critical part of these efforts. The investment of this money will create positive returns for our community for years to come.”
“I am so proud of our Commission and Green Team,” said Commission Chair Chris Nelson. “This is a group that has never faltered in its commitment to improving our community with boots on the ground and fingers in the dirt.
“From 2021 until now, that commitment has resulted in well over $30,000 in grant money for various projects. This next round will help continue the community’s rich tradition of environmental consciousness and ensure that our township is a place to live, learn, and grow for this and future generations.”
“From the pros in our outstanding Public Works Department to the volunteers in the Commission and Green Team, this town consistently demonstrates how cooperation and careful planning lead to great things,” said Committeewoman Eileen Hollingshead, who serves as the Committee Liaison to the Environmental Commission.
“The work we are doing in Mickleton Park will have a lasting impact on our residents, and I am so pleased to see the attention our efforts are drawing from organizations like Sustainable Jersey and the PSEG Foundation. I hope our progress can continue to be an example to communities around us and throughout New Jersey,” she continued.
“Making improvements like these to our park spaces cuts down on maintenance costs while also expanding their useability for the whole community,” said East Greenwich Department of Public Works Director Anthony Rossett. “Public Works looks forward to working further with the Committee and Commission to enhance these spaces.”
Depending on weather and personnel, work is tentatively expected to begin this summer and continue periodically for two to three years.
The Commission and Green Team invites anyone with interest to visit the park and observe the work already completed on the pollinator garden, environmental information kiosk and pathways. Efforts to remove extensive intrusion by invasive plant species and replace them with locally-sourced native plants are also ongoing throughout the park.
More information on the Environmental Commission and Green Team can be found by visiting the Commission Facebook page or by emailing EGEnviro@eastgreenwichnj.com.
