Winners of City Gardens Contest Named

Newarkers with a green thumb recently competed in the 23rd annual City Gardens Contest, hosted by the Greater Newark Conservancy.

During the awards ceremony held recently at NJIT, conservancy co-chairs Hans Solmssen and Neal Zimmerman were joined by Secretary Mark W. Gordon and board members James M. Porter and Rachel Schwarz, along with guests Newark Deputy Mayor Adam Zipkin, Food Policy Director Elizabeth Reynoso and Adopt-A-Lot Program Coordinator Carol Harris.

This year’s contestants competed for top honors in categories including Best Home Garden, Best Block in Newark and Best Community Garden.

The conservancy’s executive director, Robin Dougherty, recognized all of the people involved in the City Gardens Contest over the past 23 years and their ongoing efforts to grow healthy, nutritious produce, beautify their neighborhoods and contribute to a better quality of life in the city.