Rumson Environmental Commission Earns 2023 Environmental Achievement Award

The Rumson Environmental Commission, represented by Chair Kristen Rolfes Hall and Vice Chair Heather Robinson, received an Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) award for its Emerald Necklace Green Infrastructure Project at the 50th Annual Environmental Congress on October 13, 2023 at The Conference Center at Mercer County College.

The day-long congress kicked off with the presentation of the 2023 Environmental Achievement Awards, which recognized exceptional projects carried out by environmental commissions and groups across the entire state of New Jersey. The Rumson Environmental Commision was recognized along with Bedminster Township, Caldwell, and Readington.

In honor of Frederick Law Olmsted, the Rumson Environmental Commission has applied his term “Emerald Necklace” to describe a recent project educating and promoting green infrastructure in The Borough. Rumson’s “Emerald Necklace Green Infrastructure” project selected two parks on the rivers that surround its peninsula as well as the Rumson School district property that sits in its center as the framework of the “necklace”.

Through education, outreach and support, the Rumson Environmental Commission encourages residents to install green infrastructure practices to add “jewels” to The Borough’s necklace. With four grants from Sustainable Jersey, The PSE&G Foundation, NJ American Water, and The Rumson Garden Club totaling $36,000, The Rumson Environmental Commission began the project in the spring of 2022 with three objectives: install three demonstration rain gardens, educate on the importance of green infrastructure, and provide project support via workshops, starter kits and a core of “Rain Garden Ambassadors.

Check out everything the Rumson Environmental Commission is working on, its completed projects and what the future holds by visiting www.rumsonnj.org/env.