Over the next several months, more than 170,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials will be planted throughout the nearly one-mile Newark segment of New Jersey’s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway in Essex and Hudson counties.
A sampling of the plantings includes 206 deciduous canopy trees, such as red maple, black tupelo, American sycamore and white oak; 335 understory and evergreen trees at maturity, including eastern redbud, flowering dogwood and eastern red cedar; 1,356 large shrubs, including gray dogwood, witch hazel, northern bayberry, highbush blueberry and pussy willow; and 2,889 small shrubs, including black chokeberry, inkberry, Carolina rose and black raspberry.
The planting plan also includes 165,609 groundcover perennials spanning 132,980 square feet, featuring milkweed, black-eyed susan, wreath goldenrod, New England aster and wild geranium, among others. In addition, 84,139 square feet will be planted in native upland wildlife forage and meadow habitat, along with 46,693 square feet of lawn grass mix.
Once established, the plantings will improve air quality by filtering pollutants and capturing carbon, help moderate temperatures through natural shade, and support stormwater management by absorbing rainfall and reducing runoff. The plantings will also create habitat for native wildlife, including birds and pollinators. In addition, green spaces are linked to improved mental health, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being.
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