Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) has been awarded funds through the American Water Charitable Foundation’s 2026 Water and Environment Grant, part of the Keep Communities Flowing Program.
This program supports initiatives that advance water protection, environmental education, and community resilience across New Jersey.
Our funded project, Conservation Connections: Restoring Nature in Hopewell Borough, will improve Hopewell Borough Park through habitat restoration, community engagement and education.
Building on existing native planting efforts at Hopewell Elementary School and along Bedens Brook, the project will replace unused lawn spaces with native wildflower meadows and feature streamside plantings that improve biodiversity and help absorb stormwater within the Raritan River watershed.
Bat nesting boxes have been installed adjacent to Beden’s Brook to support local wildlife.
As part of this project, FoHVOS will provide the HVRSD EcoPTO (a parent organization dedicated to the ecology of the Hopewell Valley schools) with 500 wildflower plugs to supplement their existing meadow restoration project at Hopewell Elementary School.
Grant funded activities in the park began the last week of August, and started with site preparation for the Park’s new wildflower meadow.
In order to provide space and resources for the meadow seeds to germinate next spring, the lawn and weeds in the meadow’s footprint were treated. Expect to see a dead lawn patch in the southern section of the park.
These improvements are designed to create a healthier ecosystem while maintaining a welcoming community space.
This past weekend, volunteers from New Jersey American Water and the general public helped FoHVOS to install ten shrub islands throughout the project area.
These elements boast only native plant species: Smooth Alder, Buttonbush, Sweet Pepperbush, Silky Dogwood, Gray Dogwood, Winterberry Holly, Northern Bayberry, Red Chokeberry, Swamp Rose, Pussy Willow, Black Elderberry, Highbush Blueberry, Arrowwood Viburnum, Blackhaw Viburnum, and Common Persimmon.
“We installed 200 shrubs and trees together,” said FoHVOS Executive Director Jennifer Rogers. “These plantings will benefit our local native insects and songbirds next year, and as their roots grow and establish, help to keep the Beden’s Brook streambank intact.”
Through hands-on conservation efforts involving residents, volunteers, and students, FoHVOS aims to inspire local action and demonstrate how small, community-driven projects can make a meaningful difference.
At a time when pollinators, birds, and bats face significant challenges, this initiative will help to grow Hopewell Borough Park into a habitat for wildlife and a beloved gathering place for generations to come.
“Our team enjoyed getting out in the community and planting some beautiful shrubs and trees in the ground on a gorgeous fall day,” exclaimed Shealynn O’Toole, Senior, Source Water Protection Program Manager at American Water.
“These plantings will help improve the health and resilience of the surrounding landscape and the watershed upstream of our intakes, and we are so proud to see important projects like this funded through the American Water Charitable Foundation. We cannot wait to see how they grow!”
Follow Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space on social media to learn more about upcoming project events.
“We’d love to see you in the Park!”
Photo courtesy of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS)’s Conservation Connections: Restoring Nature in Hopewell Borough
FoHVOS at Hopewell Borough Park in Hopewell Borough.
