Hello 08108! Oh spring, you are here at last! So excited to enjoy the warmer weather, hear the birds chirping and watch the beautiful flowers bloom. I am also excited for you to check out our Spring edition magazine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Collingswood.
We start our issue with the Trailblazers Trolley Tour celebrating the contributions of Black-owned businesses. It was a sold-out event through Ida’s Bookshop and Haddon Township Equity Initiative to honor Black history, celebrate diversity, highlight the rich history of innovation, promote entrepreneurship, and contribute to a more inclusive South Jersey community. There were two sessions where 30 plus history-seekers were able to hop on and hop off the trolley for an experience that supported cultural, creative and culinary Black-owned businesses and vendors along Haddon Avenue, from Camden to Haddon Township to Collingswood. Learn all about the tour and more starting on page 6.
Next we catch up with Sustainable Collingswood, also known as the Green Team. Their annual Green Festival in April marks 15 years this year. And as they mark a milestone, Sandi Kelly, lead coordinator for the borough’s Green Team, said it’s all about continuing education. Kelly noted they are working to drum up the festival post pandemic. Visitors can learn about rain barrels, composting, trees, recycling, native plants, pollinator gardens, electric vehicles on display, the bike share program, you name it! It was formed back in 2009 by commissioner Joan Leonard, a lifelong environmentalist. Collingswood has been at the forefront of creating an electric vehicle infrastructure and continues to work on the framework for the bike and pedestrian masterplan with Haddon Township and continues to focus on food insecurity and food equity. Check it all out starting on page 9.
We round our issue with excitement – the borough is moving forward with pocket park concept design plans at Haddon and Woodlawn avenues. And the opportunities are endless for the area in downtown Collingswood. Pop-up events, vigils, movie nights, you name it! These type of events naturally gravitated to the area relatively by accident. The site has had different uses over the years from a gas station to a garden center to just being vacant. In March, Collingswood Mayor James “Jim” Maley Jr. and the borough’s board of commissioners approved a resolution authorizing a bid for the construction of a new pocket park for the intersection. The approval marks a significant step forward in the borough’s efforts to enhance community spaces in the downtown area with the addition of ‘third places’ where people can gather and socialize. “We are limited in our public spaces,” said Sandi Kelly, project consultant for the borough. She added the pocket park provides that formal town square piazza that is missing in downtown Collingswood. Learn all about what is in store starting on page 10.
Also check out Keeping up with Collingswood for future community events. All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead!
Enjoy!
