Students and teachers at Hackensack High School and neighborhood residents celebrated the school year’s end with a special event. In June, the Hackensack Community Rain Garden got a new educational sign and public art. Leaders from the Hackensack Public Schools District and the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) celebrated the new additions to the garden blooming with flowers and art at a formal dedication on June 10.
“We gather here today to celebrate the dedication of this beautiful rain garden,” said Hackensack Assistant Superintendent Rosemary Marks at the dedication. “(It is) a living, breathing example of sustainability and community partnerships.”
The event also featured speeches by Richard Del Vechio, the Science and CTE Supervisor for grades 5-12 at Hackensack Public Schools District, and Leonardo Vazquez, Executive Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. Both led the effort to produce the rain garden, which was made possible by the Community Foundation.
Representatives from the Hackensack Public Schools District, Sprout Farms & Gardens, TD Bank, and the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation gathered to dedicate the rain garden filled with plants and flowers at Hackensack High School.
Plants and Flowers Provide Inspiration
In June 2024, the rain garden was installed along Hackensack High School’s entrance at First Street. Dave Chalek of Sprout Farms & Gardens designed and also installed the garden with a hearty group of volunteers. The NNJCF produced the rain garden, along with support from several sponsors and the school district. The garden features a number of native plants, flowers, shrubs and also a Paw Paw tree. This garden serves several purposes: absorbing stormwater in an area prone to floods and helping students learn about the local environment and sustainability, while adding to the natural beauty in the area.
“The garden plants also tolerate salt,” said Northern New Jersey Community Foundation Executive Director Leonardo Vazquez. “Anyone looking for ideas about plants, flowers, or trees to plant in an urban setting should come to the rain garden for inspiration.”
Public Art Adds Beauty
The public art, created by Suzi Gerace of Dream Makers Art Studio & Gallery, adds beauty to the garden. Painted birdhouses, insect houses, and also a bird bath adorn the garden. With support from the High School’s arts and woodshop teachers, the public art stimulated even more interest in the garden. Suzi Gerace of Dream Makers Art Studio & Gallery created the vibrant public art. The NNJCF’s Associate Director Danielle De Laurentis managed the public art project and community engagement process to choose the artwork. The sign, commissioned by the school district and created and produced by Del Vechio, helps visitors learn about the importance of rain gardens with native plants for stormwater management and biodiversity.
The school district installed an irrigation system at the garden. They also added paving stones to help protect the garden’s plants, flowers, and the Paw Paw tree. The NNJCF sponsored the public art. Foundations and companies — TD Charitable Foundation, Suburban Consulting Engineers and Garden Communities/The Jefferson — supported the rain garden.
Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice
The rain garden is a keystone project of the NNJCF’s Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice initiative. The Foundation and over 200 Hackensack residents, who are members of the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance (another keystone project of the Green Infrastructure initiative), work together to address flooding in the city. They also consider other environmental issues that tend to put a heavier burden on low- and moderate-income communities.
“This was a community-driven effort,” Vazquez said of the rain garden, plants, flowers and its features. “Community members helped choose the type of garden they wanted at the school. The ideas for public art came from a brainstorming session with the Hackensack Art Club. Furthermore, the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance made the final choice for art.
“We wanted to put the rain garden on the grounds of Hackensack High School — the only public high school in Hackensack. The high school sits in the city’s center and also in the heart of the community,” Vazquez explained. “Furthermore, we are very grateful to the many organizations inspired to collaborate with us and support this project. For many years to come, we hope the garden’s plants, flowers, and trees provide enjoyment to Hackensack residents.”
