Riverdale cultivating community garden for 2023 as part of statewide grant effort
A community garden is coming to Riverdale in 2023, courtesy of an injection of cash from a statewide nonprofit.
The $10,000 grant received this week from Sustainable Jersey and the PSEG Foundation will allow Riverdale to create the garden at the town's senior center for next spring, said Mayor Paul Carelli.
Registration is expected to open this winter for residents who want to rent plots next year. Not all plots will be available as some will be reserved for the Riverdale Food Pantry, Carelli said.
"A select few will be tabletop ADA accessible beds for senior citizens and those with disabilities," he added.
A few beds have already been built by young residents Matthew Soto and Gina Oswald as scouting projects. The $10,000 will fund fencing, water infrastructure and an ADA-accessible entrance, Carelli said.
The $10,000 award is one of 35 distributed this year by Sustainable Jersey, a Lawrenceville-based nonprofit created to incentivize environmentally friendly projects and programs run by local governments and school districts. Since 2009, it has distributed roughly $500,000 per year.
This year, the nonprofit doled out grants in 15 of New Jersey's 23 counties. Thirteen received $10,000, 15 received $2,000 and seven communities received $20,000 grants.
Among them was New Milford, where local officials are seeking to partner with Bergen County Audubon Society and Hackensack Riverkeeper to create an environmental resource inventory for use "as a first step in informing and determining future projects," said Michael Putrino.
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A popular planning tool in the region, the reports identify natural resources, contamination zones and existing infrastructure to help determine the viability for construction projects and environmental conservation efforts.
Other projects in New Jersey funded by this year's $300,0000 round of grant funding include an effort by Fair Lawn to upgrade its website and communications and Chester Township's desire to make a 7-acre field a "pollinator paradise." Statewide, efforts include a mobile farmers market; outdoor classrooms, and more.
The grants supported by the PSEG Foundation and evaluated by an independent committee help communities take meaningful steps to combat climate crisis, social equity and environmental pollution, said Randall Solomon, executive director for Sustainable Jersey.
“As we work to achieve a sustainable New Jersey, our organization understands how important it is to help municipalities and schools build on the progress they are making at the local level," he said.
David Zimmer is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: zimmer@northjersey.com
Twitter: @dzimmernews
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Community garden coming to Riverdale New Jersey in 2023
