This morning, Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca and Deputy Mayor Kathleen Leventhal joined the Maplewood Garden Club to dedicate the new Monet-inspired bridge over the Hilton Rain Garden.
One of the largest in New Jersey, the Hilton Rain Garden opened in 2012 adjacent to the Hilton Branch Library on Springfield Avenue. The garden recharges about 200,000 gallons of storm water runoff each year from the library’s roof and parking lot, redirecting it to the Arthur Kill Watershed, according to the MGC’s website.
The new bridge is a tribute to Odette Jakel for her commitment and generosity to the MGC. After the dedication ceremony, rain garden experts Amy Rowe, David Nial, Joanne Beckerich and Kathy Kohlman discussed the important role rain gardens play in storm water management.
Funded by a $10,000 environmental grant from NJ American Water (NJAWC) and built by the Maplewood Garden Club with the help of Maplewood Township, the rain garden also provides an expanded habitat for local pollinators seeking the native species of plant material which were selected.
