EAST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members joined with Environmental Commission members and Sustainable Jersey to dedicate the restored Township Arboretum at Etra Lake Park. A Sustainable Jersey grant funded by the PSEG Foundation, supported the Arboretum project which included cleanup and access improvements, planting of native trees, installation of identification signage and markings which can be accessed via smartphone, and preparation of maps and informational materials to share with the community and promote the Arboretum.
Mayor Mironov stated, “East Windsor is excited to open to the public this Arboretum located at Etra Lake Park to establish an educational center for students and our entire community. The Township Arboretum will serve as a ‘living’ outdoor museum and educational resource for the community to share information on the legacy of trees and forest ecology in a creative and fun convenient park setting. We look forward to residents utilizing the Arboretum to learn more about native trees and their role in local landscaping and planning, and providing and promoting self-guided tour materials to share the Arboretum.”
The East Windsor Arboretum is easily accessible within East Windsor’s crown jewel Etra Lake Park, which offers many recreation opportunities including walking and jogging trails along with a rich landscape of plant species, birds and wildlife. The Arboretum features 29 native tree species, a mix of newly planted and mature trees, marked with identification tags. Each tree has a scannable smartphone QR code which provides a link to the description of the characteristics and origins of the tree. The Arboretum start place is designated by a new large sign next to the park’s Environmental Center displaying a map and tree locations. Some of the native tree species include: sweetgum, white oak, sassafras, sycamore, mulberry, mockernut hickory, sweetbay magnolia and witch hazel, among the 29 trees featured. An accompanying brochure with a depiction of the Arboretum map and tree locations assists self-guided tours. The Arboretum provides educational value to the local community and schools.
East Windsor Township achieved and remains at the prestigious Silver Certified Level New Jersey Sustainable community and has been a Tree City USA municipality for the past 21 years. Sustainable Jersey is a voluntary program open to municipalities and schools which desire to work collectively toward a more sustainable New Jersey. Acting with state agencies, non-profit organizations, foundations, academia and industry, Sustainable Jersey researches best practices for what communities could do to contribute to a sustainable future.
Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members join with members of the East Windsor Environmental Commission and Green Team for the dedication of the restored Township Arboretum at Etra Lake Park. Pictured (from left to right) are: Council Member Alan Rosenberg; Ronald Balint, Chairperson, Environmental Commission and Green Team; Council Member John Zoller; Council Member David Russell; Adam Palant, Environmental Commission Member; Gary Wroblewski, Environmental Commission Member; Council Member Marc Lippman; Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager; Mayor Janice Mironov, and Randall Solomon, Executive Director, Sustainable Jersey.