Mercer County has recently been awarded a grant to restore the health of the tidal freshwater wetlands at John A. Roebling Park in Hamilton. The grant was awarded by the Green Acres Program, which was created in 1961 to meet New Jersey’s growing recreation and conservation needs.
The project area in Roebling Park is part of the Abbott Marshlands, a tidal freshwater marsh ecosystem. These marshes are one of the most important and rare habitats in New Jersey, providing water quality value, flood protection and critical wildlife habitat.
This ambitious restoration aims to rid the marsh of nonnative and invasive plants, thereby improving the diversity of the native habitat and returning the marsh to a more natural state.
Implemented by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Local Government Stewardship grant supports government agencies in their efforts to preserve and enhance the natural environment. In 2017, Mercer County secured $59,350 for the restoration after a competitive review process.
In addition to the grant received by Green Acres, matching funds will be provided by the Mercer County Open Space Preservation Program to execute the project.
“Mercer County thanks the Department of Environmental Protection for supporting our efforts to improve and protect this vital and unique ecosystem,” Mercer County executive Brian M. Hughes said. “Season after season, new visitors discover the John A. Roebling Park and surrounding Abbott Marsh, and it is our goal to restore this environment so that it can be enjoyed by future generations.”
