Township’s flight of fancy winning awards

East Brunswick’s
butterfly park draws
colorful visitors
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

Photos by MIGUEL JUAREZ staff David Moskowitz (top photo) of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission holds a black swallowtail butterfly, which features a pull-off tail if attacked from the rear, during a visit to the township’s butterfly park Monday. A cabbage white butterfly (bottom left) takes a rest on the flowers at the park; Moskowitz hunts for butterflies.

EAST BRUNSWICK — The township’s butterfly park has racked up a prestigious award, marking the fourth time the site has won recognition this year.

The park was given an environmental quality award by the federal Environmental Protection Agency last month in New York City. The honor was presented by Jane Kenny, regional administrator for the agency, to David Moskowitz, an East Brunswick Environmental Commission member who spearheaded the park’s creation two years ago.

The butterfly park is located off Rues Lane and Winton Road and is connected to Great Oak Park.

"This was for an outstanding environmental project servicing the community," Moskowitz said of the award, which he accepted on behalf of the commission.

The township has also been recognized for the park by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, the state Senate and Assembly, and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

"One of the great environmental benefits of the park is it’s raised community awareness of butterflies and their role as environmental indicators," Moskowitz said.

Butterflies, he said, are a good means for gaining a better appreciation of the environment and its biodiversity.

"We have 33 species at the park. They’re really a spotlight on biodiversity," he said.

"One of the things about the award that’s really special is it’s something the community has earned, because the butterfly park has really been a community effort," he said.

The township applied for the annual award by submitting materials such as photographs and newspaper clippings about the park, he said.

"There is an extensive criteria [for the award]," Moskowitz said.

A board of EPA employees voted to grant East Brunswick the award, he said.

Meanwhile, the park continues to thrive, with flowers beginning to bloom and people hitting the trails with butterfly nets, he said.

"The first butterflies of spring are being seen, including commas and mourning cloaks in the woods, and sulfurs and cabbage whites in the woods and fields," Moskowitz said.

And the community effort continues as local Scouts are mulching beds and adding to the native plant restoration in the woods, he said.

Included among those plants are sweet pepper bush, service berry, witch hazel, oaks and a grove of hackberry in the field, he said

The park also will have a new information site thanks to local Boy Scout Daniel Sempkowski, who was building the kiosk to help gain his Eagle Scout rank, Moskowitz said. The kiosk was expected to be finished this week and will include photos as well as information about plants for butterflies and butterfly gardening. There also will be a display board.

Members of the community are making good use of the park. On Sunday afternoon, for example, a couple dozen people could be seen enjoying the park on bikes or walking.

Moskowitz said a number of people are using butterfly nets made available at the site.

The nets allow for butterflies to be temporarily captured for closer inspection. There’s a challenge in being able to catch a butterfly, he said, because of the speed at which they fly to avoid predators.

Moskowitz said the plaque for the EPA honor will be displayed at the municipal building along with other awards the park has garnered.