Park conservancy to replace Maplewood Memorial Park elm

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In celebration of Earth Day, the township of Maplewood and the newly formed Maplewood Memorial Park Conservancy will replace a missing elm tree to restore the park’s historic Eight Elms Memorial on Saturday, April 22, at noon at the Memorial Park flagpole across from the train station at Dunnell Road.

Volunteers and those interested in the conservancy are encouraged to come. They can help plant the new tree, a disease-resistant American elm cultivar, the Princeton elm, and spread mulch around the other seven elms that comprise the memorial. Volunteers should bring gloves, rakes and shovels.

The Eight Elms Memorial in the park was dedicated in 1932, each elm representing the eight Maplewood citizens who died fighting in World War I. This April marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into the war. The memorial also includes a flagpole and dedication boulder at the top of the hill across from the train station.

Besides the replanting of the tree, there are other activities in Memorial Park during the day. The Maplewood Environmental Advisory Committee is holding an Earth Day Rahway River Cleanup and Community Picnic between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For this event, meet near the Civic House at the footbridge near Dunnell Road.

More information about that event is available at www.maplewoodisgreen.org.

  Earth Day, Maplewood Memorial Park