Sustainability is the
ongoing action of taking care of today’s material needs in a
conscious manner while preserving our resources for future
generations.
A Brief Environmental History of
Warren
Warren encompasses 19.7 square miles and is located
in the Eastern part of Somerset County between the first and second
ridges of the Watchung Mountains. The Lenni Lenape Indians
originally inhabited the area. Like much of the Garden State, when
Warren Township was incorporated in 1806 it was a rural farming
community. Since the 1970’s Warren has grown to become a
residential, suburban community. In 1982 Interstate 78 was extended
to include the areas it runs along the northern part of the town,
which is accessed by exits 33, 36, and 40.
Open Space planning in Warren Township has been part
of the planning process since the 1970’s. In recent years, the Town
and/or Somerset County purchased over 400 acres of open space. The
open space parcel housing the Dealaman Nature Trail and pond,
donated by Atlantic Development, is home to the annual fishing
derby. Additional Open Space includes numerous hiking trails,
several parks and ball fields.
The purchase of Wagner farm made possible the Wagner
Farm Arboretum. On May 31, 2001 Warren Township purchased Wagner
Farm, a former dairy farm located on Mountain Avenue. In 2004 the
Township authorized the formation of the Wagner Farm Arboretum
Foundation, Inc. as a non-profit organization. The Community and
Giving Gardens, the first operational gardens, were launched in
spring 2007. They consist of 78,000 square feet of fenced-in land,
divided into two sections. The Community Garden includes 116 10 x
20' plots that are rented out to local residents. The other half is
devoted to the Giving Garden. Run entirely by volunteers, its goal
is to grow nutritious and tasty produce for those in need in the
area. Distributing through a network of nine local food banks, the
Giving Garden donated nearly 20,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables
in 2010. The Giving Gardens host the township-wide educational
program, known as "Growing to Give." Primary school children start
seeds in classrooms, then come to the Garden to plant in spring.
Older students periodically help with maintenance. Volunteers and
teams tend other beds in the garden from local corporations and
organizations. _ Activities at the Arboretum and Community Gardens
along with the strength of the local schools contributed to Money
Magazine’s 2009 selection of Warren Township as the 6th best small
town in the nation.
The Warren Township Conservation Commission was
formed on April 17, 1969; the name was later changed to the
Environmental Commission. The primary function of the Environmental
Commission is to protect natural resources. There have been various
public events over the years to promote environmental awareness. In
the 1970’s Earth Day Fairs were held in Warren. The Green Fair
tradition was revived with the 2009 regional GrEEn Day Fair with the
towns of Watchung, Green Brook, and Long Hill held at Watchung Hills
Regional High School, which is located in Warren Township. On April
16, 2011 an Earth Day Fair held at the Warren Municipal Grounds. On
December 17, 2009 The Township Committee passed a resolution to form
a Green Team for the purpose of seeking certification in the
Sustainable Jersey program. The Warren Green Team held its first
meeting on October 14, 2010. The application for the Sustainable
Jersey bronze certification was filed on January 6, 2012.
The actions completed and documented in this
certification submission represent years of careful planning and
conservation efforts. This submission is a brief snapshot of the
many programs in place that help preserve the natural beauty of
Warren.
(GREEN TEAM home)
