New Library, Greenhouse Coming to Arboretum

A new educational center and greenhouse is being constructed at Laurelwood Arboretum.

The Knippenberg Center for Education at Laurelwood Arboretum will provide much-needed educational space at the 30-acre facility.  The center is named after Dorothy and John Knippenberg, the original owners of the property. They used it as a nursery to grow rhododendron and azaleas that they would then give to neighborhood residents. Ground was broke on the project on Sunday.

“We have a pressing need for indoor space so that we can expand our educational programs and community events without being constrained by weather conditions,” said Jim McHugh, president of the Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum (FOLA). FOLA is a non-profit that helps maintains programs at the arboretum in cooperation with the township.

McHugh said the center would also contain educational materials, a resource library with horticultural reference materials from the Knippenberg’s private collection, and bathrooms.

Grants from the Passaic County Open Space Committee and the township are helping to fun the project. McHugh would not say how much each one donated.

A new greenhouse will be erected when FOLA has enough funds to complete that phase of the project. The already existing greenhouse will be rebuilt. It was built in the 1930s and is deteriorating rapidly.

The parking lot will be enlarged and handicapped parking spaces will be added.

The arboretum is closed while construction on the Knippenberg Center is conducted. Work is expected to be complete by the spring of 2014.

For more information about Laurelwood click here or call FOLA at 973-202-9579.

 — Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.