Foundation's Sustainability Mission Once Again Garners Award

Duke Farm’s project to turn the 2,700-acre estate into a regional environmental center is among the seven projects receiving a 2011 Smart Growth Award from New Jersey Future, a non-profit smart growth research and advocacy group.

“From the beginning of our process of strategic re-visioning in 2004, Duke Farms sought the advice and counsel of several institutions which had faced the issues involving the balance between developing/improving property for humans and doing so with best practices of maintaining sustainable habitats for native flora and fauna,” Timothy Taylor, executive director of the Duke Farms Foundation, said. “One of those institutions was NJ Future. . . NJ Future was a ready, knowledgeable and able resource for us when we needed such, and to be recognized by them for following through on the smarter aspects of what we learned and applying them to our project is a distinct honor.”

Duke Farms will receive the award in the Environmental Stewardship and Education category, for its focus on increasing public access to sustainable programs, education programs, land stewardship and sustainability. It is the ninth time Duke Farms will receive an NJ Future award, having received one each year since 2002.

The project involves turning the Duke Estate into a regional environmental and sustainability center, as well as preserving the estate land. Part of the project includes using native plants to treat wastewater, using a cistern to demonstrated water reuse and irrigation, as well as using the systems as educational examples for the public.

“It’s an usual project,” Rick Sinding, communications representative for New Jersey Future, said. “I can’t think of any projects we’ve had that are similar in regard to the direction it’s taken.”

Anyone can nominate the honorees for the awards, according Sinding. The nominations are first analyzed to ensure they comply with the award criteria and nominations are selected for consideration. The finalists receive a site visit to see which project components have been implemented, or, in cases where the projects have not begun, present the project plans to the committee.

Duke Farms received its nomination from Michael Catania, president of Conservation Resources, Inc.

“"I was delighted to hear about this award,” Michael Catania said. “I know of no other organization, public or private, which is doing more to lead by example than Duke Farms. The impressive range of efforts underway there to implement their new mission of being a model of stewardship for the 21st century - including the adaptive use of historic buildings, the use of renewable energy, and the sustainable agriculture being done in concert with wildlife habitat restoration - will inspire visitors to seeks ways to incorporate smart growth concepts and sustainability in their own personal and professional lives."

Honorees will receive the awards during New Jersey Future’s Tenth Annual Smart Growth Awards ceremony June 9.