By Charley Flakenburg, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY Calling on all lovers of nature and community service, the township is forming a new volunteer group to help beautify Montgomery’s parks.
Montgomery’s Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Committee and Friends of Open Space put their heads together a few months ago and decided to create an environmental group to help them achieve one of their shared goals: allowing the township’s prized parks and open spaces to flourish.
”We got together and decided to try this out, see if we could get some people out and interested and get some work accomplished,” said Lauren Wasilauski, the Open Space coordinator. “It would be a big benefit to get some of the park areas cleaned up.”
The idea is for the group to gather once or twice a month and work together on various environment-related projects. Some activities are expected to include maintaining shade tree plantings and trails, cleaning up litter on pathways and in parks, planting shrubs and removing invasive species in open space lands and in the Montgomery Arboretum.
Ms. Wasilauski said the arboretum particularly has a problem with invasive plants such as pear trees and wild rose bushes that could crowd out native vegetation growth if it is not corrected.
The volunteer corps wouldn’t have to try very hard to stay busy since 35 percent of Montgomery’s land is dedicated open space. With so many areas to spruce up and maintain, Mayor Ed Trzaska thought this volunteer initiative is a great addition to the community.
”Hopefully the joint volunteer events will attract new residents to community service and help maintain Montgomery’s natural resources,” said Mayor Trzaska. “I look forward to personally participating in some future events, especially as the weather gets warmer.”
With the taste of spring already in the air, the township is aiming to get this volunteer corps underway next week. Interested community members are asked to gather at 1 p.m. on March 23 at Van Horne Park, which is right behind the Princeton Fitness Center on Route 206. Volunteers are asked to come equipped with gloves, water to drink and small shovels, loppers, pruners and other gardening tools to take on their first task: weeding, mulching, light pruning and removing stakes and wires throughout the park.
”We’re going to try and start out with small things like that some tree maintenance and maybe some pathways in the future,” added Ms. Wasilauski.
A rain date is scheduled for the following day on March 24 at 1 p.m. at the same park.
Folks will also be able to sign up for additional projects at Environmental Commission’s table at the upcoming Earth Day Fair on April 21 at the high school. Those who want to learn more about this initiative or have questions are asked to contact Lauren Wasilauski, the Open Space coordinator, at 908-359-8211 ext. 343 or [email protected].

