Union County, NJ – An enthusiastic group of Merck employees and interns joined the Union County Adopt-a-Park program at Michael S. Bezega Park in Rahway last month. The volunteers removed litter, cleared trails, and cut away invasive vegetation in the park.
“The volunteers did a great job and their hard work is greatly appreciated,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “This park is a good example of reclaimed open space, and volunteers can make a big difference in maintaining the ecosystem and making it attractive for everyone to enjoy.
Michael S. Bezega Park is a created wetland that helps to absorb excess stormwater while providing the public with green space. It was created in 2002 as a flood management project, after eleven homes that experienced chronic flooding were bought and removed from the floodplain of the Rahway River.
State, County and local stakeholders combined resources to acquire the site and re-landscape the grounds for flood control. Adopt-a-Park volunteers helped to plant more than 20,000 native trees, shrubs and perennials.
“The native plants act as a natural buffer to filter out pollutants in the storm water,” said Bergen. “By clearing out invasive species, the Merck volunteers have made a valuable contribution to the health of the park and the river.”
The Merck group also spreading gravel and woodchips walking along trails, pruned native plants, separated recyclables from other litter, and removed downed tree limbs.
Union County’s Adopt-A-Trail Chainsaw Crew provided an assist, by cutting larger limbs into smaller pieces.
Any individual or group is welcome to join the Union County Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Trail program. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-789-3683 or visit online at ucnj.org.
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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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