‘Floating Islands’ Launch At Pond In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The “Floating Islands” project is finally a reality at Degnan Park.

Students at West Orange High School recently helped to launch three artificial floating islands (AFI) at Vincent’s Pond, marking a milestone for a project that’s been in the making since the coronavirus pandemic began.

What is an AFI? According to the West Orange Public School District:

“An AFI is a man-made floating structure on which aquatic vegetation grows, constructed using recycled materials. The islands provide an affordable solution for improving water quality issues, preserving the shorelines, and creating an aesthetically pleasing environment. Using recycled materials consisting of PVC piping, water bottles, and mesh, students created oval-shaped structures with aquatic plants woven into the mesh. The AFIs will provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution for addressing the problems of storm water runoff and other sources of pollution that affect the township’s local waterways and aquatic life. Perennial water plants were used for the islands based on their proven ability to successfully filter out water pollutants. Furthermore, the islands will beautify the environmental landscape and preserve the lakeshores by helping to absorb waves.”

The three islands – about eight feet in length – are currently attached to the edge of the water at Vincent’s Pond. Plans to expand the floating islands to Cable and Crystal Lake are underway.

First introduced by West Orange Township Council President Susan McCartney, the project received funding via a $2,000 grant from Sustainable Jersey and with cooperation from the Rutgers Agriculture Expansion Cooperative and West Orange High School.

The project was floated to the Technology and Engineering Department at West Orange High School in 2020, but the pandemic postponed its construction until this spring.

“COVID set the project back and students went on to graduate but the concept and the materials were still in place for the incoming Sustainable Technology students to continue the educational program to conduct the water quality testing, build the floating islands, secure the plants and launch in Vincent's Pond at Degnan Park,” McCartney said.

High school students began by testing the water at Vincent’s Pond.

“We did some basic classroom colorimetric tests for dissolved oxygen, ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, salinity, and pH … All results were within normal ranges,” Environmental Science teacher Pete Ficuciello said.

“Students have been very proactive about being ‘green,’” noted WOHS Technology and Engineering teacher Cindy Celi.

“Students take my class to explore the technological side of environmental science,” she added. “Sustainable Technologies offers them the ability to combine their interest in science and technology. Even though we collaborated with the environmental science class to take samples of the water, my students explored what plants would work well in the water, the materiality of the islands, the functionality to make them float, and design features.”

“Over the past few years, I have witnessed students more involved in school and community-based projects that are making strides to treat our environment with care and respect,” Celi said.

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