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Essex County Environmental Center 
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Introduction
 
The Partnership
 
History of the Site
 
Directions
 
Calendar of Events
 
 

Essex County Environmental Center
 
 
621 Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ  07068
Phone: 973.226.6082 / Fax: 973.228.3793

Laurie SindlingerEnvironmental Educator

Building hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. / Closed Sundays

Trails: Open dawn to dusk seven days a week.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Essex County Environmental Center is dedicated to creating awareness, understanding and appreciation of the environment and its relationship to Essex County residents. Essex County Environmental Center is devoted to uniting its twenty-two municipalities through developing and delivering holistic educational programs and action projects that foster earth stewardship to the County’s diverse populations and habitats. The Essex County Environmental Center promotes environmental sustainability and encourages individuals and communities to live responsible lifestyles that minimally compromise the earth’s resources planning for the future of Essex County.

THE PARTNERSHIP

New Jersey Audubon and the County of Essex have entered into an educational programming partnership at the Essex County Environmental Center.  NJAS will provide outreach programs for children, families, schools, and adults.

 

 NJAS Calendar of Events for the Center

 Summer Nature Day Camp 2008

 

Click here to visit the Essex County Environmental Center website.

HISTORY OF THE SITE

The Essex County Environmental Center is a facility of the Essex County Park System.  It is located in West Essex Park which stretches along six miles of the Passaic River starting at Bloomfield Avenue in Fairfield and ending just beyond South Orange Avenue in Livingston.  The immediate grounds of the Essex County Environmental Center include approximately 1 mile of trails in a wooded wetland habitat with access to the Upper Passaic River.  Also on site are the newly renovated Garibaldi Hall where the NJ Audubon Society office is located, fishing and boating areas, a greenhouse and gardens, a raised boardwalk, and picnic areas.

The former Park Commission first began acquiring land for West Essex Park in 1955. Money to purchase the first piece of property came in part from the sale of Oraton Parkway to the New Jersey Highway Authority. Over subsequent years, other land was purchased from more than 70 individual landowners.

The Center for Environmental Studies was established in 1972 and functioned for over 23 years as a place to educate students about the environment.  It was officially closed in 1995 due to lack of funding but organizations such as Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the 4-H, and Master Gardeners continued providing services and programs at the site on a limited basis to meet the needs of the community. 

Essex County Environmental Center was dedicated and opened in May 2005.  This state-of-the-art facility was constructed as an environmentally sensitive building using natural and recycled materials, innovative energy saving technologies, and topped by a "green roof" for the purpose of storm-water management.  It also houses a large public meeting room, interactive exhibits, a wet lab, and a library.

DIRECTIONS

From Livingston:

Drive north on Eisenhower Parkway to Eagle Rock Avenue.
Turn left on Eagle Rock Avenue.
Follow “From Eagle Rock Avenue/Eisenhower Parkway intersection” below.

From Garden State Parkway North and South:

Take exit 145 NJPAC/Newark/280.  Bear left off exit to merge onto 280 West/The Oranges.  Follow directions below from 280 W.

From Route 280 East or West:

Take exit 4A – Eisenhower Parkway South.
Continue to the light and turn right on to Eagle Rock Avenue. Proceed approximately ¼ mile to the Center on the left.
Follow “From Eagle Rock Avenue/Eisenhower Parkway intersection” below.

From Eagle Rock Avenue/Eisenhower Parkway intersection:

Drive west on Eagle Rock Avenue for about ¼ mile. (You will pass 2 office buildings on the left; Ultimate Trading Corp. and ITW: American Safety Technologies, Inc.) 

*Note: The driveway entrance is difficult to see.  As soon as you see the “SLOW” markings on the road slow down.  The driveway is immediately after the 2nd office building on the left.

 

 

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All rights reserved.