On daily walks with her dog, Kathy Buchan passed a plot of land that had been saved from development, but forgotten and neglected. The park, Jackson Woods, was seen as unsafe and littered with garbage causing it to be largely avoided by the community. Jackson Woods is located in Long Branch, deemed an overburdened community by NJDEP. While some had forgotten about the space Kathy couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that she had to do something. She saw the potential of transforming the space into a beautiful oasis for her community. This led Kathy to attend a public meeting to voice the need to clean up the space. Kathy was able to convince the newly elected mayor to take action and begin work.
The first step was cleaning up all the trash and invasive species that had overtaken the land. This task took over two years and involved collaboration with public works, volunteers, the local green team, environmental commission, and more. To continue work on the project public support was necessary. Mike from the invasive species task force working at the park suggested getting the word out by putting up a sign and planting daffodils, a sign of hope. Soon after, the sign was up and hundreds of daffodils were blooming. Community members began to take notice that a transformation was underway and they wanted to get involved. The project became a community wide collaboration with local schools, youth organizations, artists, garden clubs, local restaurants, and nonprofits. Sustainable Jersey honored Jackson Woods with the Collaboration Award highlighting the project’s connection with the community.
One of the biggest collaborators has been the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. As the project grew it needed funding, Monmouth Conservation Foundation helped to set up donations through their foundation in addition to directing volunteer groups to plant gardens and assist in the clean up. Additional funding was secured through state, federal, and local grants. Kathy and her collaborator Nan Simon (along with many others) have been able to successfully create a thriving community space that is constantly evolving. The 13 acre passive recreational park is filled with gardens, bee houses, informational signs, sculptures, and unique benches often made with repurposed materials.
Today people enjoy walking their dogs, having picnics, and learning in their educational section. The park still hosts volunteer sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays that keep the space clean and beautiful. The park is now a staple in the community and even the host of the city’s Halloween celebration. If you are looking to make a difference in your community, Kathy suggests starting by making a list of people or organizations who may be able to assist you in your goal, researching the grants that are available to you, and importantly, not getting too overwhelmed. To avoid getting this, Kathy recommends to start with a small achievable goal that helps you gain support and attention from your community, for Jackson Woods it was their signature daffodils and first sign.
Thank you to Kathy Buchan for sharing the story of Jackson Woods. Thank you to Kathy Buchan and Nan Simon for sharing photos of the park. Learn more about Jackson Woods here.