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ELIZABETH , N.J. , Sept. 23, 2004 - Mayor Chris Bollwage, the City of Elizabeth and Groundwork Elizabeth hosted a Kick-off event today which will result in the seasonal planting of over 1,500 new shade trees in the City of Elizabeth . Surrounded by the entire 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade classes from St. Anthony’s School, Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, BPU President Jeanne Fox, DEP Commissioner Brad Campbell, Sister M. Charitina Frabizio, S.C., David Shaw of the NJTF, and Linda Morgan, Co-President of Groundwork Elizabeth, all shared personal stories about their love for the environment as nine trees were ceremoniously planted near St. Anthony’s School on Centre St.
The Cool Cities Program was developed and is wholly funded by the Board of Public Utilities and the State DEP, as a method of reducing the energy costs to urban hot-spots. “The BPU is committed to saving energy in these critical times”, said BPU President Jeanne Fox as she addressed the students, who were lined up on Centre St. in front of their school. After a few short words from the dignitaries who assembled for the event, the children began the first steps of the perpetual care of their nine new trees, watering them.
“This program is a perfect fit for Groundwork”, said Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. “By adding trees, we are adding to the health as well as the value of our community”.
Groundwork Elizabeth, one of the City’s newer non-profits, was initiated by a grant developed by a cooperative effort between the City of Elizabeth and the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program. The mission of the non-profit is to improve and promote the physical environment within the City of Elizabeth .
Commissioner Bradley Campbell instructed the crowd of over 200 that two years ago, Governor James McGreevey pledged the State would plant up to 100,000 trees in communities who evidenced the most need for their benefits. For 2004, the BPU and DEP have committed to funding up to $5 million worth of trees, approximately $1 million dollars worth slated for Elizabeth .
Studies have shown that trees reduce energy costs, reduce violent crimes, help clean the air and the soil, and have another remarkable benefit. “Trees have been shown to actually increase self esteem of individuals who are exposed to them,” said Lisa Simms, a representative of the New Jersey Tree Foundation, the organization which plots trees for the Cool Cities Program for the State.
Linda Morgan, Co-president of Groundwork Elizabeth was pleased with the program. “As the first Groundwork Trust in N.J., we are most pleased to be involved in a program of this magnitude.”, said Ms. Morgan, alluding to the Groundwork USA National team of Trusts which share the same environmental mission and are located throughout the country. “and we need to involve the community in improving our environment.”
Groundwork has plans to continue to make environmental improvements by hosting a River Clean Up event on the Elizabeth River on Oct. 16 th, and by restoring a historic traffic triangle at the north end of the Train Arch on North Broad Street in the near future.
Volunteers who are interested in Groundwork Elizabeth, or who want to find out more about the City’s efforts to improve the environment are urged to call Executive Director of Groundwork Elizabeth, Jonathan Phillips, at 908-289-0262, or log on to the organization’s website at www.groundworkelizabeth.com.
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