NJ Deliverable 1
According to the National Education Association mental health issues are at an all time high since the pandemic. A poll the NEA conducted in April 2022 found that nearly three-quarters of U.S. parents think their child needs mental health counseling and one-third have shown symptoms of mental health issues. Children with disabilities have even higher rates of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. And there are many external factors that have brought the country to this moment. Many children are grieving the loss of a parent due to COVID-19 (approximately 214,000), have food insecurities (17 million children in the US struggle with hunger), have anxieties related to racism and anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice, and many are afraid to even go to school because of the unprecedented amount of mass shootings that have plagued our nation. It is a tough time to be a child in general, much less in a lower income area that lacks the resources and care of more affluent communities.
One way to address the mental health crisis in America’s youth is through nature. This proposal is for a creative intervention to serve the underrepresented community in the New Brunswick public school district through the mutually beneficial installation of a community garden in Buccleuch Park. According to a 2021 report done by Nature Sacred, a network of urban sanctuaries that connects the power of nature to improved mental and physical health, there is, “a large body of research exists on both the benefits of nature as healing space and the methodology of how to design green spaces to maximize healing benefits,” (CITE.) People in lower income, urban areas usually have some trepidation and sometimes fear when it comes to interacting with nature. But exposure to nature can reduce anxiety, manage chronic stress, drop cortisol levels significantly within the hour, help with cognitive performance, foster better memory and concentration, improve self esteem and mood and so much more.
This community garden would be created in partnership with the students of the New Brunswick school district. There would be a section to plant fruits and vegetables that can be harvested and sold weekly at a small farmer’s market that would be set up close to the space. They would also have the opportunity to take some food home with them which can help offset some of the needs of children who may have food insecurities. The space would also provide a beautiful landscape of flowers, local plants, and sculptures/art created by the children. There would be seating areas, space to host various meditative/wellness classes or have a picnic, and a space to clean and prepare the food before putting it out to sell at the farmers market. This will give students a unique opportunity to learn, really get in touch with the cycle of life through their gardening, and a safe space to hang out in groups or on their own for self-reflection.
“The Power of Sacred Places” report would guide the methodology behind the design of the space and center “feelings of comfort”, “enticing exploration”, “offering a destination” and “stewardship and maintenance”. The layout of the space would be very intentional about creating a safe space for the community since the neighborhood may not feel innately safe to some. Shrubbery would be low so that folks can visualize exits and have clear site lines so that they can keep an eye on whether or not there is danger. This might help ease some of the anxieties people in the community may have related to nature. A very visually stimulating space will entice people to want to explore and learn more about what’s going on. The more folks that stop by to see some kind of interesting sculpture or piece of art created by the children may entice them to also look at the pretty flowers, read up on what is being grown and potentially make their way to the farmer’s market. Offering a destination involves creating a space groups can use and mingle in. This is the farmers market, but also the open space where yoga classes can be held, picnics can be had and groups can use as a meeting place. Finally the stewardship and maintenance aspect allows for a meaningful structure that provides mutually beneficial opportunities for the community to reap the benefits of the space while also helping to care for it.
Ideally this project would be funded by the school district through the money they acquired after President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a historic investment in the public school system. The City of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Parks system would help with providing the space and whatever permits are needed to implement the larger plan. Rutgers University can also partner with the school district to provide some free wellness classes in the park weekly for students and other members of the community. There is no argument that mental health resources are needed for a community that is hurting. This isn’t the only solution to the huge issue that is our mental health crisis, but it’s a nice way to address it in an inconspicuous way. Not everybody is comfortable with admitting they have or even able to recognize mental illness. A community green space dedicated to encouraging young people to be hands-on with the preservation and beautification of their limited green spaces will create, not only an increase in their levels of mental wellness, but will also preserve sacred natural spaces for them to thrive in.
Works Cited
Flannery, Mary Ellen. “Mental Health in Schools: The Kids Are Not All Right.” NEA,
Srinivasan, Neha. Edited by Naomi Sachs, Nature Sacred, Annapolis, MD, 2021, pp. 1–32, The
Power of Sacred Places.
“DCF: Office of School Linked Services.” DCF | Office of School Linked Services,