(Cherry Hill, NJ) – The Camden County Educational Gardens have been awarded a $9,500 grant by New Jersey American Water as part of its 2019 Environmental Grant Program. The grant will be used to continue improvements to the gardens, located at the Camden County Environmental Center in Cherry Hill.
“In 2016, we established a five-year plan to renovate and expand the gardens with the help of the Rutgers Master Gardeners,” said Freeholder Jeff Nash, liaison to the division of Environmental Affairs. “This award will allow us to continue pursuing that goal, while also making the educational gardens even more beautiful, and increasing and improving the programming offered at this facility.”
The company’s Environmental Grants are awarded to organizations and community groups engaged in sustainability projects that further improve water source and/or watershed protection. This year, the company has announced three grants totaling approximately $27,000 in environmental funding. The 2019 award recipients include:
- Township of West Orange, Environmental and Open Space Commission
River Clean-Up Initiative – $8,100
- South Plainfield High School, Environmental Science Club
Creation of an Outdoor Classroom – $9,804
- Master Gardener Association, Master Gardeners of Camden County
Creation of an Education Garden – $9,500
“Camden County has worked hard to become a leader in New Jersey when it comes to environmental stewardship and the protection of our natural resources,” Nash said. “The most critical tool we have in the fight for environmental justice is education. That is exactly what the gardens provide, and that’s why we’re so excited to continue their expansion.”
The educational gardens are maintained by the Camden County Parks Department and the Rutgers Master Gardener Program, which serves as a volunteer arm of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension horticultural programs.
The revitalization plan was established in 2016 to enhance environmental education outreach. The plan would feature display gardens, composting demonstration sites, and various raised bed structures for multiple populations on the site behind the Camden County Environmental Center in Cherry Hill.