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Union County plans to construct a new ice rink on the 1.14 acre site of a beloved and historic tree-filled picnic grove, located in one of the few green spaces in the area.  This grove is adjacent to a quiet neighborhood that will be forever changed. We want them to find another location, for the benefit of people and nature.  Read on...

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What is Happening?

Justin's Grove, nestled within the Olmsted-designed ​Warinanco Park in Roselle and Elizabeth, NJ, is under threat. Plans to construct a new ice rink entail the devastating removal of this grove, home to a healthy stand of 60+ mature oak trees. This isn’t just about uprooting trees; it’s about losing a vital green oasis in an urban setting that dearly needs it.

Mature oak trees are not just part of the landscape but the lifelines of our ecosystem. They stand as ancient sentinels, providing much-needed shade, purifying our air by producing oxygen, and offering significant flood protection. Each tree is a pillar supporting a complex web of wildlife, offering habitat to numerous species. Removing them not only displaces these creatures but disrupts the ecological balance and our connection with nature.

Urban areas like Roselle need their green spaces now more than ever. These spaces offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, improve mental health, and foster community connections. Destroying Justin's Grove for an ice rink robs the community of these invaluable benefits.  The new rink will bring noise, traffic, congestion, and heat...while costing taxpayers $$$ to build and maintain the facility. 

Equally important, Justin’s Grove is part of Warinanco Park, a landscape designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, the successors of Frederick Law Olmsted, America’s most celebrated landscape architect and the visionary behind New York’s Central Park. When the Union County Park Commission enlisted the Olmsted Brothers, their charge was to create “our Central Park,” a crown jewel for the county park system. The firm’s legacy emphasizes harmony between natural beauty and human recreation, ensuring that green spaces are not only functional but deeply restorative. To remove Justin’s Grove is to alter and erase a living piece of that legacy and diminish the very purpose for which Warinanco Park was created.

While we recognize the need for recreational facilities, it's crucial they do not come at the expense of our environmental heritage. The proposed ice rink could be constructed elsewhere, in a location that doesn’t sacrifice this beloved green space. With innovative urban planning, we can ensure the development of necessary community facilities while preserving our precious natural resources.

Join us in urging the Union County authorities and the Department of Environmental Protection to reconsider their plans. Let’s find a solution that allows both trees and new facilities to thrive. Sign this petition to herald the preservation of Justin's Grove for current and future generations.

View photos of the grove here. 

***In addition to signing this petition, please email James Pellettiere at jpellettiere@ucnj.org. He will share your thoughts with the Union County Board of Commissioners. You may also contact the Commissioner of the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection, Sean M.  LaTourette, at commissioner@dep.nj.gov, or contact him at 1-609-292-2885.****