by association
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — The township’s fledgling butterfly park has earned itself a state honor because of its originality.
The municipal butterfly park, the first of its kind in the state and maybe the country, was given a 2002 Environmental Achievement Award from ANJAC (Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions) last week. The township was one of only five New Jersey municipalities chosen for the award, according to David Moscowitz, of the township’s environmental commission.
"It recognizes exceptional environmental work," Moscowitz said of the group.
The award was presented Friday during ANJAC’s 29th annual New Jersey Environment Congress at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Mayor William Neary was on hand, along with Moscowitz and Eliot Goldman, chairman of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, to accept the award.
The conference drew more than 250 people.
Among the criteria to win the award were originality, impact, effectiveness, educational value, supporting information, clarity of presentation and response to a need.
"It was for outstanding environmental projects conducted in the state," Moscowitz said.
Council Vice President Saul Fink, also a member of the environmental commission, said Moscowitz filed the contest application to explain the nature of the project.
"We wanted someone to look at what we’ve done," Fink said.
The new park, located off Rues Lane near Ryders Lane, "is a teaching tool and a nice thing to have in the community for kids to learn about butterflies," he said.
During Monday night’s Township Council meeting, Neary said the park has been constructed with "sweat equity."
"Most of the credit goes to Dave and a couple of other people on the commission," Fink said. "These guys came up with some great ideas, and I was there to help out."
Moscowitz said the fact that the park is the first municipal butterfly park in the state helped it win the award. He said the all-volunteer effort also helped.
"It highlights the biodiversity of the town with a focus on butterflies, but also creating a unique park," he said.
"There just really isn’t anything else like this," Moscowitz said.
The park is still very much a work in progress, though the township has finished installing a 1,000-foot-long center path. The township also recently installed a water line to water the plants, he said.
In addition, about 30 butterfly bushes have been planted, as well as about 60 perennials.
With the help of Boy Scout Troop 220, the plants have been mulched for the winter, and Brownie Troop 817 planted about 100 iris flowers and other vegetation to attract butterflies.

