This is a big one! This is the big enchilada; some say this is the grasping of the holy grail. But after 10 long years of community hard work with one more huge effort by neighbors, the dynamic restoration of Van Vorst Park will be largely completed. While the city has provided $1.6 million to carry out the community's vision, the Friends of Van Vorst Park (FVVP) have fundraised $27,000 for our plantings. After this planting, our community gardens will have about 30,000 plants from tiny bulbs to trees. We believe this makes these the largest community gardens in the Garden State of New Jersey!
We're also asking everybody to bring food or soft drinks to help us celebrate. You can bring a bag of potato chips or cook a special dish of yours. It can serve a few, or it can serve many. When you come to plant from 10 a.m. on, leave your brunch food and drinks at the gazebo. At around 2 p.m., gardeners will begin to take brunch breaks.
The community's vision for the renovation of Historic Van Vorst Park has always included but reached beyond beauty and historical appropriateness. The neighborhood's vision has been one borne of love and seeking to promote love. Over the years, our efforts have replaced drug dealers with friendly neighbors, mothers and toddlers securely enjoying the park. We've wondered what would happen when the final areas of this park were done and the community's loving vision were actually completed, and at least for a moment "good" prevailed. Might Camelot appear? The planting on this day will be this moment of completion.
But we need lots of help on May 5, come rain or shine from 10 a.m. Bring as many friends as you can. If you have a spaded shovel or gloves, bring them. If you have any questions or want to volunteer to help in any way please call 433-5127.
Dr. Clifford Waldman
FVVP Co-Chairman
VVP Construction Advisor
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