The Hawthorne Green Team enhanced an existing walkway to access the Passaic River that can be enjoyed by the residents of Hawthorne and Passaic County for fishing and recreation activities, such as kayaking, canoeing and small boats. Additionally, two (2) rain gardens were installed to capture storm water sheet flow from a parking lot, which is situated between the Hawthorne ballfields and the Passaic River. The Hawthorne Environmental Commission and Hawthorne Green Team members along with borough employees, private companies, members of the Shade Tree Commission – Hawthorne’s Arborists, as well as Boy Scouts, and other civic minded people of the community worked to build and complete project successful.
With the existing pathway from the Wagaraw Road parking lot, it provided the “Gateway” to the Passaic River for residents of Hawthorne and Passaic County. The pathway provides an opportunity to access the beauty of the river, along with approximately 75 feet of natural shoreline for anglers to fish, and to promote water recreation activities. This launch area is the perfect “cartop” as the roof of the car is often where the vessels are strapped down for transport and allows the anglers to park their vehicle in the existing parking lot. At the Grand Opening on August 15, 2020, we were able to educate and promote Hawthorne’s waterfront open space area. During the planting of the swamp milkweed (donated by the Hawthorne Environmental Commission) and installing the rain garden signs, caution poison ivy signs, and the trail sign, we had the opportunity to meet many residents that were going fishing and enjoying the outdoors in the Gateway area.
The parking lot of the Wagaraw Road ballfields provided an opportunity to build and implement green infrastructure to address storm water sheet flow. This builds upon the Green Team’s Rain Garden at the Hawthorne Louis Bay 2nd Library and Community Center that addressed excess storm water runoff from the building into the parking lot. This area will be utilized to demonstrate that green infrastructure can address storm water runoff as well as promote aesthetic and ecological benefits. Rain gardens encourage environmental stewardship and community pride. A rain garden sign was created to educate the public on what is a rain garden and how it addresses storm water management. The rain garden sign contains the logos of the Hawthorne Environmental Commission, Hawthorne Green Team, and Rutgers as well as acknowledges project funded by Sustainable Jersey Grant Program and The PSEG Foundation.
The Hawthorne Green Team worked with the Boy Scouts to install nesting boxes for the birds in the woody area. The nesting boxes were purchased from Duncraft who sells nesting boxes from everlasting brown and green recycled plastic. A total of thirteen (13) nesting boxes of varying sizes were purchased to become homes for bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, swallows, songbirds and woodpeckers. By planting native plants in the rain gardens and installing nesting boxes, the Hawthorne Green Team created an environmental habitat for pollinators, butterflies and bees, and homes for the birds. As a result, this project created a sustainable ecosystem for the wildlife and increase our biodiversity in Hawthorne.
The “Gateway to the Passaic River” project provided an opportunity to enhance and promote Hawthorne’s waterfront open space; the importance of utilizing native plants of New Jersey; and increasing Hawthorne’s biodiversity. Lastly, this project promoted the aesthetics of the Passaic River and provide current and future generations the opportunity to enjoy fishing and water recreation activities.