WEST ORANGE, NJ — Joe McCartney has received the Open Space Award from the New Jersey Clean Communities Council for his work as the chairman of the West Orange Open Space Commission.
McCartney was nominated for the award by Nick Salese, the township’s assistant DPW director, for leading the community’s design and plan development for an open space known as “The Rock,” a six-acre parcel at 577 Mount Pleasant Ave.
In 2011, the West Orange Open Space Commission purchased this property with funds from several sources, including the township’s Open Space Trust Fund.
McCartney led a series of public meetings about the property’s development, including building a community garden or public gathering space. McCartney spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive landscaping plan that can be implemented in phases, as funds are available. The plan includes buffer trees, walking paths, a wildflower meadow, a pollinator garden to attract bees and an outdoor classroom for use by neighboring schools.
“Joe’s leadership has been key to getting this exciting project off the ground,” NJCCC Executive Director Sandy Huber said in a press release. “We are always pleased to celebrate community leaders who step up and move open space projects forward. We can’t wait to see what Joe will do with The Rock.”
On April 22 the township celebrated Earth Day with an event organized by McCartney, who gathered more than 100 volunteers to clear and clean the parcel to plant 500 trees from the New Jersey Tree Foundation.
NJCCC is a comprehensive, statewide litter-abatement program that has served New Jersey residents and visitors for more than 25 years. Learn more at njclean.org.
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