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Community Corner

Sustainable Garden Replaces Vacant Lot

Rainwater capture system sustains flowers, edible plants, reduces water in sewer system

With features that include a rain barrel for water collection, a step water pump and an underground storage tank, the new West Ward Panther Pride Sustainable Garden will meld environmental conservation with a new neighborhood green space.

The garden is located across the street from the 13th Avenue Elementary School and was formerly a vacant lot between 9th and 10th Streets.

"This garden was built with love and pride by members of the Greater Newark Conservancy's Clean and Green Team as well as volunteers and organizations from the West Ward community and the students from 13th Avenue School," according to Robin Dougherty, Greater Newark Conservancy executive director. 

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The public may attend a May 26 ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. with West Ward Councilman Ronald C. Rice, city of Newark officials, community members, and local students.

According to Newark Greater Conservancy spokesperson Vincent Baglivo, the garden will be used by the community for local events, block parties, educational activities, and workshops.

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"The way all the partners came together was kind of serendipitous," said Dougherty. "Originally it was designed as a community park/garden, but then the city of Newark Office of Sustainability introduced us to a company that had a grant to build a rainwater collection and recapture system." 

Baglivo said that the garden could be used this summer as an outdoor classroom for 13th Avenue School summer sessions and that the Conservancy would like to have a local artist teach art workshops in the garden.

The 25 x 100-foot lot features three-foot-high raised planting beds on either side of a central walkway. A patio space at the rear of the garden is suitable for picnics and cookouts. 

There are tulips growing in the left raised bed and edible greens, herbs and strawberries in the raised bed on the right side. Plans are under way to enhance the plantings and hang signs explaining each of the garden's water-conserving elements.

The garden features an interconnected rainwater capture and reuse system that demonstrates how minimizing storm water run-off reduces pollution into Newark's waterways.

A mural and other art displays are being planned under the direction of 13th Avenue School art teacher Paula Savino.

The property became available through a public-private partnership through the West Ward Abandoned Properties Initiative and Fairmont Heights Development Company. 

Because the garden does not have a hose connected to city water, the garden will rely on rainwater and other conservation measures to nurture the plantings.

An underground storage tank collects water from surrounding rooftops and from the patio surface and a Stepping Water Pump, which looks like a fitness center Stairmaster, is used to transfer water from the underground storage tank to fill five 55-gallon aboveground water barrels. 

A stand-alone rain barrel also collects rainwater. 

Garden organizers say the rain water collection system has another benefit, it eases the burden on the city’s sewer system. Rainwater collected within the garden reduces the amount of water draining into the city's sewer system.

With more rainwater systems like this in place, it will reduce the burden on the city's sewer system and ultimately, the amount of untreated wastewater that is diverted into the Passaic River, said organizers.

This is the first garden in Newark with this kind of water-conserving, pollution-reducing system, according to conservancy staff member Sara D. Ghiglia. Other rain gardens are in development, she said. 

According to Baglivo, Greater Newark Conservancy promotes environmental stewardship to improve the quality of life in New Jersey's urban communities through four program areas, environmental education, community greening and gardening, job training and advocacy for environmental justice.

The garden's water-conservation features were funded by a grant from New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program and NY/NJ Baykeeper. 

Additional partners include Greater Newark Housing Partnership and the Tate George Group.

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