Groundwork Elizabeth Prepares to "Break Ground", Press Release. December 3rd, 2003.

Elizabeth, NJ, December 3, 2003-- Groundwork Elizabeth, a newly formed non-profit corporation modeled after a successful British program, has announced the first private contribution towards its goal of "improving people's lives through the enhancement of their physical environment."

State Senator Raymond Lesniak of the 20th District dedicated $1,000.00 to Groundwork Elizabeth, at the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities, where he was awarded the Philip M Scanlan Environmental Award from Quality New Jersey. "I am truly honored to be the very first contributor to Groundwork Elizabeth. The goals of this organization need to be addressed, and my commitment to the improvement of New Jersey's environment is the reason I want the first Groundwork Program in our State to be successful," said Senator Lesniak upon presentation of the $1,000 check to Groundwork Elizabeth.

Mayor J. Christian Bollwage echoed Lesniak's commitment to the improvement of the environment in the City of Elizabeth. "We have aggressively pursued the improvement of our Elizabethport community by working with the State of New Jersey in establishing a Brownfield Development Area" declared Mayor Bollwage at the check presentation. "New Jersey is taking back the environment hand in hand with improving the business climate for its residents. Elizabeth intends to continue to be a leader in redevelopment."

Groundwork Elizabeth is partially funded by the National Park Service's Brownfields Program and the City of Elizabeth, although for its long-term vitality it will need to continue to receive funds for private sources. In England, there are about 50 Groundwork Trusts, each working to improve their neighborhoods. "It has been extremely successful in Europe," observed Executive Director Jonathan Phillips, who noted that Elizabeth is the seventh Groundwork established in the U.S. "At the Groundwork USA Convention held this past September in Concord, Mass., the Executive Director from East London was able to attend and share his goals with us. Our goal in Elizabeth is to attain and surpass the level of success they have had in the U.K."

During the ceremony Phillips pledged the money would be used in planting trees or shrubs near the Elizabeth River along Elizabeth's Brownfield Development Area, in the Elizabethtown part of the City.

Groundwork Elizabeth's Board of Directors has targeted four projects for their first year.
" Organizers intend to build a pocket park adjacent to Appletree Village, where 15 two family homes will be built, in the Port section of Elizabeth.
" Next Spring the Elmora Hills section will receive a new landscape at a traffic intersection to be announced.
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" And the largest project, one that co-Presidents Robin Lospinoso and Linda Morgan are most excited about is the Groundwork sponsored Bicycle Tour de Elizabeth. The 10 or 20 mile route will take the anticipated 175 riders throughout the City, for a tour of its industrial, retail, and residential sections. Monies raised by this event will be used to fund, the fourth event scheduled for 2004, the "River Awareness Day", a program which LoSpinoso states, "will remind us how important the River was to Elizabeth's history, and how it still brings life to the entire area". The date for this event is still pending for sometime late Summer 2004.

Besides funding, Groundwork Elizabeth is looking for volunteers to share in it goals. For more information, please call 908-289-0262, or e-mail-- groundwork-elizabeth@groundworkusa.net.