Greening Of Rumson Helped By Grant

RUMSON, N.J.—The borough has been awarded a $20,000 Sustainable Jersey grant. And it should mean even more "green" infrastructure here.

The Rumson Environmental Commission plans to install and maintain green infrastructure demonstration gardens, such as rain gardens and bioswales in three locations: Forrestdale School, Victory Park and Riverside Park. And this grant, funded by the PSEG Foundation, will help support that, the borough said in a news release.

These demonstration gardens will help illustrate how the community can adopt planting techniques that help protect rivers and other natural resources.

The Environmental Commission works with the community to protect its unique natural resources, educating about the protection of its land, water and air. And it motivates residents and local businesses to join in the effort.

“The health of our environment has always been a focal point here in the Borough of Rumson,” Rumson Mayor Joseph K. Hemphill said in the news release.

He noted that Rumson is surrounded by water on three sides.

"Combined with the current challenges we face with water levels in many of our residential zones, it is a tremendous honor and great opportunity to be awarded the Sustainable Jersey Grant so that our Environmental Commission has the ability to not only brainstorm, but act upon projects that will benefit our environment for years to come," he said.

Proposals were evaluated by an independent blue-ribbon selection committee.

The Sustainable Jersey grants are intended to help municipalities and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey and Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Seven $20,000 grants, 13 $10,000 grants and 15 $2,000 grants were distributed to recipients across 15 New Jersey counties.

The grants awarded throughout the state will fund a range of projects, including a mobile farmers market; a climate adaptation plan; rain gardens; environmental resource inventories; complete streets improvements; stormwater and flooding mitigation projects; outdoor classrooms; pollinator gardens and more.

“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,” said Randall Solomon, executive director for Sustainable Jersey.

“The Sustainable Jersey grants, funded by the PSEG Foundation, build capacity and help our communities take meaningful steps to face issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution."

The PSEG Foundation has contributed $2.8 million dollars in funding to the Sustainable Jersey grants program for municipalities and schools.

Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs.

As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, municipalities want to be a part of the solution to these challenges. Sustainable Jersey participants (municipalities and schools) have successfully implemented and documented over 20,826 sustainability actions, the news release noted.

Sustainable Jersey has provided over $6.8 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey, the news release said.