Hoboken Green Team 'Drain Mural' Contest Colors City's Streets

Hoboken, NJ – It’s public art with a function.

On Earth Day 2016, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Councilman Jim Doyle and the Hoboken Green Team took time to congratulate the first place winners from Hoboken High School and Wallace Elementary School in the Earth Day storm drain mural contest.

According to a city news release, students from seven Hoboken schools participated in the contest, which was initiated by the Hoboken Green Team to raise awareness of the causes of water pollution and the effects of storm drain contamination.

More than 20 storm drains across the city were painted by students. The winners were chosen by the Hoboken Green Team, including Jeffrey Train and Elizabeth Balladeres, who coordinated the projects with all seven schools and the Hoboken Public Schools Green Team, led by Chris Della Fave.

The Hoboken Public Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to raise funds for the Hoboken Public Schools, donated supplies to some of the participating schools, including non-toxic eco-friendly paint.

Additional schools participating in the storm drain mural contest included Hoboken Charter School, Connors Elementary School, Calabro Elementary School, Hoboken Dual Language Charter School and The Hudson School.

• See related article: Hoboken Students Create 'Drain Mural' At 4th and Bloomfield

“There is no better way to celebrate Earth Day than to congratulate the outstanding students who used their artistic creativity to remind people to keep the streets and areas around the drains free from litter,” said Zimmer. “Our city became a much brighter, colorful, and cleaner place thanks to their educational paintings on local storm drains. Thank you to all students, teachers and Green Team members for participating in this creative contest to help protect our local environment.”

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