Metuchen Public Schools Receives State Grant To Plant More Trees On Campus

METUCHEN, NJ – Metuchen School District will be getting funds from the state for planting more trees on campus, under the Trees for Schools program, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said Thursday.

The award is being given by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Sustainable Jersey, and The College of New Jersey. Nearly $4.5 million in grants was given out to fund the planting of trees at 40 public schools, colleges, and universities across New Jersey.

Under the grant, Metuchen School District received $167,880 to plant more trees.

"We are honored to be recipients of the Trees for Schools grant from Sustainable Jersey. This initiative gives us the opportunity to plant trees that will provide shade, sequester carbon, and help mitigate the effects of climate change—benefiting both our environment and our school community," said Kathryn Lemerich, Secondary STEM Supervisor and District Sustainability Committee Co-Chair.

"Our Tree Ambassadors, a dedicated group of students from Metuchen High School, under the direction of Yoko Kato, science educator, and Dr. Kenneth Sammond from the Metuchen Shade Tree Commission, will play an active role in identifying suitable planting locations and supporting the project every step of the way. They have been an incredible asset to our district, and their leadership exemplifies the kind of environmental stewardship we hope to continue to inspire across our schools.”

The program was first launched by the state in 2023 and resulted in the planting of nearly 3,000 trees at 33 school campuses across the state. This is the second round of funding through the program.

More than half of the projects are located in overburdened communities, where excessive paving and limited tree cover can cause temperatures to increase, a scenario known as the urban heat-island effect.

Grant awardees will participate in workshops and design projects, with the goal of planting more than 4,500 trees in Spring 2026.

“The planting of trees in urban areas is an incredible tool in our work to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” LaTourette said. “Expanding tree canopies at school campuses will make it easier for students, staff and residents to find shade on hot days while providing numerous environmental benefits. My DEP colleagues and I are proud to support this work to promote the importance of trees in fighting climate change.”

Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey, congratulations all the grant recipients and said the funds made local sustainable practices achievable.

“They are stepping up, taking advantage of resources, and showing that meaningful climate action isn’t an abstract idea. It’s happening now, in communities across New Jersey. We look forward to working with these schools to expand their tree canopy and provide students with rich educational opportunities and a vital connection to nature,” Solomon said.

The grants range from $10,000 to $250,000 and cover costs associated with planning, site preparation, tree purchases, planting, watering, monitoring, and maintenance over a three-year period.

The program, which launched on Arbor Day in 2023, is a joint effort of DEP, Sustainable Jersey, and TCNJ. It is funded through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants.

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