Carteret, NJ – Mayor Dan Reiman welcomed the Carteret High School freshman class on Friday April 30 for a special event marking the beginning of the “Adopt a Park” program, a partnership between the Borough and school system through which classes will spend a day cleaning up a designated Carteret park.
According to Mayor Reiman, the program has been established to foster appreciation for the town’s public resources, among other things;
“At the end of the day, we expect our young adults to see the fruits of their work,” Mayor Reiman stated, “and feel some of the satisfaction that comes from productivity that directly benefits the community. We feel that participants will gain some appreciation and respect for our public resources”
The first installment of what is planned to be an annual event took place at Carteret’s Waterfront, which in addition to cleanup received a facelift in the form of landscaping that included mulching and new planting performed by football and basketball players from the school’s “Play Smart” program. Participating students are to receive Community Service Certificates, and a plaque in the park’s Danielle’s Garden commemorating the work and commitment of the CHS class of 2013, who will maintenance the park similarly every year until graduation.
“I am a firm believer that High School students should be required to participate in volunteerism and giving back to their community as a prerequisite for graduation,” Reiman added.
Activities shifted from work to play at noon, with music and sports activities, and a barbeque sponsored by Burger Express that included a fundraiser and tee shirts for the Class of 2013.
“This is a multi-faceted program that will provide a number of benefits to the town” Councilman and Parks Commissioner Vinny Bellino added. “I’m sure our kids have gained a greater respect for Waterfront Park, which in turn has become all the more hospitable.”
