Greater Newark Conservancy - Community Greening

Community Greening Program

Since 1989, the Greater Newark Conservancy has brought together local residents, businesses, organizations, and schools to implement greening strategies for Newark neighborhoods.

The primary objective is, through the actions of community residents, to transform physically blighted blocks into well cared for, environmentally revitalized areas and productive open spaces. Residents of all of Newark's wards may participate. The philosophy of the Community Greening Program is to encourage and highlight community empowerment, pride and self-sufficiency.

Flower Barrels

As a first step, the Conservancy helps communities organize into Block Greening Clubs which purchase barrels and plant flowers on their block. Once a minimum of 60% of the houses on the block are represented, the Conservancy assists the Block Greening Club to plant barrels with flowers. The Conservancy also provides horticultural and environmental workshops to residents.

To date, more than 85 blocks participate and plant flower barrels each year. This project is the Conservancy's longest running effort and reaches more than 1000 families. Participants in this and all other Conservancy programs receive copies of City Bloom newsletter.

Vacant Lot Redevelopment

The City of Newark has more than 4,000 vacant lots within its boundaries. Despite this resource's vast availability, there is a lack of usable community open space. The Greater Newark Community Conservancy helps residents convert abandoned lots for various community uses and emphasizes vegetable and fruit production to meet the communities nutritional needs. Residents have planted vegetable and flower gardens, installed play equipment and grown fruit trees on garden sites. Some communities decide to clean the lot and plant it with either grass or wildflowers so that the weeds do not attract crime and/or trash.

The Conservancy helps a Greening Club lease the vacant lot, provides free ? work, helps residents acquire materials to renovate the lot, and assists with garden construction. In addition, the Conservancy runs horticultural workshops, and provides ongoing technical assistance and encouragement. Greening Clubs work together to help build, plant and maintain each community garden. So far, these groups have transformed 35 crumbling vacant lots into blooming community gardens.

Tree Plantings

Like most cities, Newark loses more trees than it plants. Through various programs the Greater Newark Conservancy helps residents of Newark plant trees in various redevelopments on school grounds, and along city streets.

The Conservancy also runs workshops on tree care and maintenance. Since ? we have planted 240 trees throughout the city. Greening Clubs and organizational volunteers help map, plant and maintain the trees.

City Gardens Contest

To recognize outstanding horticultural efforts, the Greater Newark Conservancy organizes an annual City Garden Contest, which began in 1991. Individuals, Garden Clubs, and other community groups compete for prizes in ten categories. Each entrant receives an invitation to our annual Awards Ceremony and Reception where winners claim their prizes. In 1999, 89 Newark gardens entered the contest.