BIRMINGHAM MINI-PARK
On a previously vacant lot at West Upper Ferry Road and Bear Tavern Roads in Ewing Township, members designed and now maintain and improve a small township park. This shaded park offers a great place for local residents to sit on a pleasant afternoon. Yearly maintenance includes annual plantings, cleaning, clearing, weeding, and watering.
The West Trenton Garden Club was awarded a $1,000 Plant America Community Project Grant from the National Garden Clubs, Inc. for the enhancement of Birmingham Park. A heartfelt “Thank you” to Rick Lazarick and Heidi Furman and their committee for the hard work in preparing and submitting the lengthy application for this grant. Over 180 applications were submitted! The project will refresh and enhance the Memorial and surrounding park areas, add new native and pollinator plants, create new habitat areas, and refurbish park features. A dedication for the newly refurbished park was held on May 23, 2024, pictures from this event are shown below.
July 2024 Photos from Birmingham Mini-Park
June 2024 Photos from Birmingham Mini-Park
Birmingham Park Dedication - May 23, 2024
In December 2022, the West Trenton Garden Club undertook a community project to enhance the Birmingham Park in Ewing, NJ. A grant of $1,000 from the National Garden Club allowed for substantial upgrades, such as Blue Star Memorial bed plantings, replacement of park benches and flags and a new mature Stewartia. The financial resources of the project included the grant from NGC, personal donations and a fundraiser selling commemorative bricks. The outcome of this project was a significant improvement to the appearance of Birmingham Park.
On May 23, 2024, the West Trenton Garden Club held a dedication ceremony at the newly refurbished Birmingham Mini-Park. Around 40 people attended this event, including 23 WTGC members and Ewing dignitaries. Four proclamations were presented by Mayor Bert Steinmann. First one was to the Officers and Volunteer Members of the WTGC for the completion of the Birmingham Park Refurbishment Grant Project. The second was to Anne Chmielewski and Ingrid Fair for graciously donating funds for a park bench to dedicate to Louise Voorhees, one of the founding members of the WTGC (and also Anne's mother and Ingrid's grandmother). The next proclamation was to Ed Birdsall, a teacher at the Mercer County Technical School - Sypek Center, for his voluntary services in the installation of the commemorative bricks. The last Proclamation was to Professor Holly Nelson, Rutgers - Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability, for volunteering her time, skills and expertise for the design layout of the Blue Star Memorial flower bed. Below is a slide show of pictures of this event and also PDF files of the program handed out and the Final Grant Reports.
On May 23, 2024, the West Trenton Garden Club held a dedication ceremony at the newly refurbished Birmingham Mini-Park. Around 40 people attended this event, including 23 WTGC members and Ewing dignitaries. Four proclamations were presented by Mayor Bert Steinmann. First one was to the Officers and Volunteer Members of the WTGC for the completion of the Birmingham Park Refurbishment Grant Project. The second was to Anne Chmielewski and Ingrid Fair for graciously donating funds for a park bench to dedicate to Louise Voorhees, one of the founding members of the WTGC (and also Anne's mother and Ingrid's grandmother). The next proclamation was to Ed Birdsall, a teacher at the Mercer County Technical School - Sypek Center, for his voluntary services in the installation of the commemorative bricks. The last Proclamation was to Professor Holly Nelson, Rutgers - Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability, for volunteering her time, skills and expertise for the design layout of the Blue Star Memorial flower bed. Below is a slide show of pictures of this event and also PDF files of the program handed out and the Final Grant Reports.
Below are the PDF files for the Birmingham Celebration Program and the Short and Full Grant Reports. Sincere gratitude from the WTGC to Rick Lazarek, Heidi Furman and their committees for the work done on the grant and for preparing Birmingham Park for this event. The reports contain great pictures of the park and the volunteers, so check them out!
| birmingham_celebration_day_program-final_051924.pdf |
| birmingham_grant_project_full_report_-_reduced.pdf |
| birmingham_grant_project_short_report.pdf |
Springtime Maintenance and Preparations for the Dedication
Pictures provided by WTGC Member George McElrath.
BIRMINGHAM PARK PLANT IDENTIFICATION PROJECT
The purpose of this new project is to promote community education of plants and trees by adding identification mechanisms at Birmingham Park. CLICK HERE.
BLUE STAR MEMORIAL
On Veteran's Day weekend in November 2019 the West Trenton Garden Club celebrated the installation of the Blue Star Memorial in Birmingham Park. After more than four years of planning, Linda Reasoner and her committee with the assistance of the NJ Department of Transportation, was able to make this project a reality. A Good Neighbor Grant was procured which allowed for the purchase of the memorial marker and rejuvenation of the surrounding plantings.
On that November weekend, the WTGC celebrated with dignitaries including Brigadier General Robert Dutko, Bert Steinmann (Township Mayor), Lucylle Walter (Mercer County Freeholder), Jeannie Geremia (then President of the Garden Club of New Jersey), and Joan Cichalski (then GCNJ Blue Star Chair).
The Blue Star Memorial honors all men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. This program began in New Jersey in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Garden Club adopted this program and began a Blue Star highway system that covers thousands of miles across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Our Garden Club is fortunate to be able to display the Blue Star Memorial marker in West Trenton at Birmingham Park.
On that November weekend, the WTGC celebrated with dignitaries including Brigadier General Robert Dutko, Bert Steinmann (Township Mayor), Lucylle Walter (Mercer County Freeholder), Jeannie Geremia (then President of the Garden Club of New Jersey), and Joan Cichalski (then GCNJ Blue Star Chair).
The Blue Star Memorial honors all men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. This program began in New Jersey in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Garden Club adopted this program and began a Blue Star highway system that covers thousands of miles across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Our Garden Club is fortunate to be able to display the Blue Star Memorial marker in West Trenton at Birmingham Park.