Restored Arboretum To Serve As 'Living Museum' In East Windsor

EAST WINDSOR, NJ – A dedication ceremony was recently held for 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 that can be accessed via smartphone, and preparation of maps and informational materials to share with the community and promote the Arboretum.

Present at the dedication ceremony were Mayor Janice Mironov, Council members, Environmental Commission members, and Sustainable Jersey.

Mironov said the township was excited to open the arboretum to the public at Etra Lake Park. “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,” Mironov said.

“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 through Etra Lake Park.

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.

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 is also available for self-guided tours.

The Arboretum start place is designated by a new large sign next to the park’s Environmental Center displaying a map and tree locations.