The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation celebrates Earth Month and announces a partnership with the Hackensack Public Schools district to address the problem of flooding and water pollution in Hackensack. The partners plan to install a demonstration rain garden at Hackensack High School on June 1. They invite the public to help design it.
Rain gardens can be elegant and beautiful, while also a valuable strategy to address flooding and pollution. Furthermore, they absorb and filter more rainwater than grass alone. These landscapes bring more natural beauty to an area. They also do more to attract and support birds and butterflies. The Hackensack Community Rain Garden will be installed on the First Street side of the Hackensack High School campus located in a highly visible area accessible to the public.
In a resolution passed in February supporting the partnership, the Hackensack Public Schools district stated, the rain garden “is consistent with the goals of the District, creating not only an aesthetic and sustainable living piece of artwork for the enjoyment of the District and its visitors, but also to create a learning opportunity for the District’s students in the design and maintenance of the rain garden, which is aligned to the Science Curriculum.”
A rain garden will be created at Hackensack High School.
Earth Month: Community Rain Garden and Information Session
The Foundation invites the public to celebrate Earth Month and share their ideas about the design of the community rain garden at Hackensack High School. In addition, participants also learn how to make their own rain garden. Attend the Rain Garden Information and Design Session on Thursday, April 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Participants also need to register in advance of the session online. Upon registering, the link to attend the session will be provided in a ticket or sent in a confirmation email.
The installation of the Community Rain Garden is a part of the community and environmental festival, Boost the Block Goes Green. Working together, Greater Bergen Community Action and the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation produce the festival.
“We want to build a beautiful rain garden in a place located in the center of the city and the heart of the community. Furthermore, we hope this will inspire Hackensack residents to create rain gardens on their own properties,” said Leonardo Vazquez, executive director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation Executive Director.
Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice
During Earth Month, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation plans to hold an information about the design of a rain garden. Photo Credit: Creative Commons License Rain Dog Designs, Gig Harbor, WA
The rain garden comprises a part of the NNJCF’s Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice project. The project seeks to reduce flooding and also improve environmental conditions for residents in the City of Hackensack affected by flooding.
Donations Appreciated
The NNJCF also seeks the public’s support to create and install the rain garden. To date, supporters for the rain garden include Suburban Consulting Engineers, a Champion sponsor.
Make a donation of any size online. For another option, send contributions by check made out to ‘The Northern N.J. Community Foundation’, with ‘Hackensack Schools Rain Garden’ entered in the memo line. Send checks to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Suite 128, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601. For further information about the Foundation, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail.
