From Roots to Wings to a Future of Accessibility
On the evening of April 28, over 140 people joined the board of the Tenafly Nature Center Association at the Knickerbocker Country Club for our 2023 Annual Dinner. It was a great opportunity to celebrate Arbor Day and those who “speak for the trees”.
The event was a great success, attracting supporters to join in conversation, cocktails, and friendly competition while bidding on a variety of silent auction items. The evening served as a lovely way for us to celebrate our hardworking staff, volunteers and supporters, culminating in an awards ceremony to honor individuals for their dedication to make Tenafly and the nature center a special place!
It was a fun-filled evening that brought elements of the nature center into the event, showcasing the programming that serves as a pillar of our mission. As guests arrived, they were serenaded with live music by the Kimberly Hawkey Trio. TNC staff proudly featured several of the Animal Ambassadors through out the cocktail hour, answering questions and posing for photo opportunities.
Native plant centerpieces colorfully created by TNC’s Forest School and stained glass made by a TNC staff member decorated the tables, bringing the outdoors into the event.
Peter Emmi, TNC’s Board President, gave a brief overview about the past year’s accomplishments, including the restoration of the east side of the main trail, grants awarded to help further our educational opportunities for low-income schools and households, and a grant received by NJ Department of Tourism thanks to Stacy Esser Group, Honda of Tenafly, Bergen County Camera, and Touchstone Computer Systems. This grant will support necessary updates to our website and provide TNC with increased visibility, helping to get the word out about the nature center, its mission, and the borough of Tenafly.
The evening was one that was infused with a celebration of nature, community and education.
A video highlighting what makes TNC so special was shown, followed by remarks from TNC’s Executive Director, Debora Davidson, who spoke about future goals and projects.
“Tenafly Nature Center has always strived to be a pillar of the community; a leading example for other communities and environmental organizations. We continue to be a source for others who look to TNC for guidance.
However, just like nature there is always room to grow and adapt. Change is inevitable and adaptation needs to be encouraged so that our preserve and non-profit can continue to succeed and flourish.
What became most clear to our staff and board throughout 2020-2022 was the real need to continue our endeavors to make TNC truly accessible to all.
We have seen elderly individuals come up on a daily basis and not be able to go much further than our picnic area. We have watched families with very young children, many still in strollers, having a hard time making it around even our shortest trail. Student and adult groups with physical disabilities do not get the full benefit of some of our programing, as they are not able to access the forest and trails in the same fashion as their classmates. All of these limitations highlight a need for accessibility.
With one composting restroom (that many would agree needs to be updated) being the only facility option for many of these individuals, our infrastructure does not provide the necessary support for everyone in our community.”
Last year the board, with support from the Mayor and Council, brought in the services of NV5, a leader and provider of professional and technical engineering and consulting solutions, to scout TNC’s trails in order to identify what accessibility measures could be added to make at least one of our trails fully accessible for all.
Our goal is to officially start this project and work with local leaders and community members to create something that benefits people of all abilities and ages.
Recognizing that the legacy trail network at Tenafly Nature Center is in need of accessibility upgrades to accommodate visitors of all ages and abilities, this project’s goal is to find a design solution based in Universal Design Principles.
This initial report highlighted how beneficial trails are to people and communities by providing access to nature and encouraging physical fitness, while offering a refuge and escape from the clamor and pace of the built environment. Whether a visitor has an hour or a day, our woods offer a peaceful respite from the rush of daily life. Trails are living laboratories that encourage learning and investigation of the biological, geological, and cultural forces that have shaped the landscape over time, while providing a deep well of inspiration for creativity and artistic expression. The preserve provides a place where it’s okay to get dirty, play with sticks, get rained on, see and hear wildlife, and smell nature’s fragrance.
Tenafly Nature Center trails have been a sanctuary for human visitors – an island of green where bonds with nature can be renewed.
However, to truly realize these benefits, trails must be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. No one should be denied access to the trail experience because of a difference in ability. No community should be without trails that are welcoming and accessible to all.
The immediate objective is to redevelop an existing trail – the Yellow Trail – in such a way that it becomes an inviting, useful, and memorable destination for people of all ages and physical abilities to the greatest extent possible.
Additionally, Ms. Davidson spoke about a short term project TNC aims to complete within the next year, the Campfire Ring Pavilion Project. This project would enable Tenafly Nature Center to construct one more, medium-sized, covered pavilion in its campfire ring education space.
This campfire ring is currently utilized by thousands of school children, scouts, campers, and the public annually, but does not provide any space for students to place their belongings or eat, nor does the current setup provide a conducive learning space for all groups.
In 1990 TNC constructed a large pavilion near the parking lot. In 2021 a smaller pavilion was constructed in the old aviary footprint. Both of these areas have supported thousands of educational programs and their participants, and provided a outdoor space that is usable, shaded, and safe to use in inclement weather. Two of TNC’s three camp programs have utilized these spaces as their campsites and groups have been able to also use these spaces for lunch time gatherings.
This additional outdoor classroom space will support and allow students to more closely observe our forest and wetland habitats all while providing shade and inclement-weather protection for participants in our year-round, all-season programming.
If you or someone you know may be interested in helping TNC to achieve either of these projects please email ddavidson@TenaflyNC.org
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