At a Glance
Environmental conservation and ecological restoration become integral parts of a master plan for three significant horticultural facilities.
Project Description
The Morris County Park Commission is the steward of 37 different park and leisure facilities serving over half a million people within Morris County, New Jersey. The horticultural unit of the Park Commission comprises three unique, distinct, complementary facilities: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Willowwood Arboretum, and Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum serves as the headquarters of the Parks Commission and is the primary horticultural facility for horticultural display, programming and visitation. Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, adjacent to Willowwood Arboretum, is the former home of Martha Brookes Hutcheson, one of the first female professional landscape architects in the United States.
Recognizing both the local and regional significance of these facilities, The Parks Commission retained a team of consultants to prepare a comprehensive Strategic Facilities Master Plan. As a key member of the consultant team lead by Heritage Landscapes, Biohabitats focused on stewardship activities related to wildlife management, endemic vegetation management, invasive species management, water conservation, responsible pest control methods, and green technology alternatives to traditional building, construction, and maintenance activities.
Biohabitats developed specific environmental stewardship recommendations for each facility related to management and administration, programming, and operations.