Green Spaces

Pollinator Meadow - Harrington Park

The Green Team converted an open area in the south side of Harrington Park into a pollinator meadow. To accomplish this the team removed invasive growth, planted native flowers and plants that will attract pollinators and created a nature trail that allows hikers to walk along the perimeter of the meadow.  The team, with assistance from the township’s DPW, installed directional and various educational signs along the natural trail.  Also, included in the meadow are bluebird houses and a mailbox that contains informational flyers that hikers can avail themselves to.

Members of the team maintain the meadow by continuing to remove invasive growth, keep the mailbox stocked with material, clean the informational signs, cleanout the bluebird houses after each nesting season and continue to spread native wildflower seeds.  The DPW supports the team by keeping the nature trail mowed and by grooming the meadow when necessary.

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Pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, etc.) are critical to our environment.  They are under stress from changes in our climate and from toxins that are used in lawn care products such as fertilizers and insect control products. Anything we can do to help pollinators survive and, hopefully, thrive is imperative.

Bioswales - Harrington Park

The team turned the median in the first parking lot at Harrington Park into a bioswale.  This was accomplished by removing the lawn that was there and replacing it with a design that will collect stormwater runoff and allow it to soak into the ground. The team then planted native plants that will attract pollinators as well as help absorb captured rainwater.  Educational information signs were also placed in the bioswales for the public.

Members of the team will weed, mulch, trim overgrowth and plant seeds in the bioswales when necessary.

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In addition to functioning as a rainwater capture area the bioswales help beautify the area where they are installed as well as serving as a habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

Monarch Waystation - Koehler Park

The team converted an area of Koehler Park just before the pond into a butterfly waystation.  This was accomplished by removing the lawn and weeds that were in the area and replacing it with plants and shrubs that will attract and sustain butterflies.  A butterfly house was also installed at the waystation.

The team removes the weeds, installs mulch and continues to plant butterfly friendly plants at the waystation each year.

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Butterflies are under stress with their numbers dropping drastically each year.  Any actions that can be taken to help support these beautiful and beneficial pollinators is worthwhile.

Planted Trees - Mill Pond Park

With a grant provided by the Garden Club of Long Valley, the Green Team purchased seven native species trees.  Before planting these trees team member cleared an extensive area of Mill Pond Park of invasive plants using a bushhog and chainsaws. The trees were then planted with the help of members from the Washington Township Land Trust and Long Valley Boy Scout Troop 236.  The trees were watered by extracting water from the South Branch of the Raritan River, which runs through the park, until they were mature enough to sustain themselves.

Removed Debris Dam - Electric Brook

 During periods of heavy rain or snowmelt Electric Brook was overflowing its banks causing a flooding condition for residents along the brook.  This flooding was the result of a natural dam created by tree limbs and stones deposited at the junction of where Electric Brook would normally feed into Welsh Brook at East Maple Ave.  At the request from the Township Committee, the Green Team used one of its work days to cut up the tree limbs and remove them along with the stones that were blocking the flow into Welsh Brook. As a result, rather than overflow its banks the overflow from Electric Brook now flows into Welsh Brook elimination the flooding problem.

Removed Invasive Water Chestnuts from Koehler Pond

Members of the Green team along with other volunteers from the community and the DPW removed a dump truck full of water chestnuts from Koehler Pond.  This was accomplished by a team of volunteers in kayaks pulling up the chestnuts and delivering them to the shore using laundry baskets.  Once at the shore other land-based volunteers would empty the baskets into wheelbarrows to be carted to the dump truck. The empty laundry baskets were returned to the kayakers to be refilled until space in the truck was exhausted.
 

Given the rapid rate of growth of these invasive plants it was determined that manually removing them each year using kayaks was impractical.  Since this initial effort, the township has contracted with a service that controls the spread of the water chestnuts by chemical means that are focused on the water chestnuts and doesn’t harm any other life in the pond.

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​Water Chestnuts are very prolific. If they are not controlled they will spread to the point where they would take over the entire pond and chock out all other life in the pond.