Union County, NJ – Members of the public have a unique opportunity to see the benefits of rain gardens, porous pavements and other examples of green infrastructure, by joining a half-day bus tour of sustainable landscaping at five sites in Summit, Springfield, Clark, Rahway and Mountainside.
The green infrastructure tour will take place on Tuesday July 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., conducted by experts from Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and the Rahway River Watershed Association.
“The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the Extension’s efforts to encourage sustainable landscaping practices throughout our 21 municipalities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “If you work with a municipal agency or belong to an environmental group, please take advantage of this unique learning opportunity.”
Landscapers, business owners and residents are also invited to attend.
The tour is designed to demonstrate the ways in which green infrastructure can help prevent excess runoff from storms and melting snow.
Green infrastructure can also cut maintenance costs while adding attractive features to a property.
The rain-or-shine tour will visit green infrastructure at schools, libraries, public works yards, and private homes. The examples include rain gardens that use special soil and native plantings to reduce excess stormwater, porous asphalt surfaces that enable excess rain and snowmelt to seep into the ground, and cisterns for rainwater harvesting.
“In addition to its bottom line benefits, green infrastructure helps to keep contaminants out of our rivers and streams,” said Bergen. “It’s a win for the property owner, and for our environment.”
The cost of the tour is $20.00 per person. The bus will leave from Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside, at 9:30 a.m. and return at 1:00 p.m. Free parking is located on site.
Participants can register online at tinyurl.com/raingardentour. Payment must be received by Thursday, July 14.
For more information about the green infrastructure tour contact Michele Bakacs, County Environmental Agent, at (732) 398-5274 or mbakacs@rutgers.edu.
The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is a program of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University, supported in part by the Freeholder Board. To learn more about its programs and services visit online at ucnj.org/rce or call 908-654-9854.
For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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