Author: Sean Kane-Holland
Are you looking to enjoy a day of sun on the beach with friends and family or tour some of the county trails? Well Ocean County has you covered. The county offers two “beachwheels.” These are comfortable, PVC chairs with wide “balloon” wheels, which enable transportation over sandy surfaces. They will transport the beachwheels to any park facility in the Ocean County park system with 36-hours’ notice.
Follow this link to learn more and how to reserve the chairs for your next adventure!
Do you have a green thumb? Or interested in learning and sharing small-scale gardening and cultiviating techniques? You can sign up and join as a volunteer at the Stockton University Farm at the Galloway Campus.
Those interested can scan the QR code to learn more and register.
The Watershed Institute releases regular podcasts to help further their mission and connect with the community.
Their work focuses to protect and restore watershed and the natural environment in central New Jersey through conservation, advocacy, science, and education.
In this episode of Watershed Matters, our host Lucia Middleton sits down with Pri Oliveira, Outreach and Inclusion Manager at The Watershed Institute, and our guest Sean Kane-Holland, Access Nature Disability Advocate at Pinelands Alliance, to explore what inclusive access to nature looks like in practice.
You’ll learn:
♿ Why accessibility means something different to everyone
🥾 How trail design, signage, parking, and adaptive equipment can make outdoor spaces more inclusive
🗺️ How accessible trail maps help visitors understand what to expect before arriving
🗣️ Why language access and culturally inclusive outreach matter
🌿 How environmental organizations can bring nature and environmental education directly into communities
🧠 How outdoor spaces can support physical, mental, and emotional well-being
🌉 How projects like the Pemberton Lake Trail and The Watershed Institute’s Hickory Loop Boardwalk are expanding access to nature
🤝 Why listening to people with lived experience is essential when creating inclusive outdoor spaces
You can view the podcast through these apps:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/oLIcdDR1ty4
Spotify: Accessibility in Nature with Sean Kane-Holland
Apple Podcast: Accessibility in Nature with Sean Kane-Holland – Watershed Matters – Apple Podcasts
The New Jersey Healthy Communities Network has announced the launch of the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network (NJHCN) Community Grants Program Request for Proposals.
Since 2011, the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network (NJHCN) has brought together local, regional, and statewide partners to support community-driven initiatives that improve health and well-being where people live, learn, work, and play. The NJHCN funding collaborative provides grants to community-based organizations to implement projects that strengthen community health, advance equity, and address priority areas identified across New Jersey, including:
• Maternal, Paternal, Caregiver, and Child Health (priority will be given to Baby Cafe applications)
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Community Food Systems
• Healthy Environments for Active Living
• Other (Community-Identified Need)
Funding for this grant cycle is in partnership with the Partners for Health Foundation. Eligible organizations must serve one or more of the following 15 communities: Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Little Falls, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, and West Orange. Statewide organizations that support local coalitions or advocate for statewide policy change to advance health equity and social justice may also apply.
Partners can begin submitting grant proposals on July 30, 2026, via the link below. The application period will close on September 15, 2026.
Application Link: https://go.rutgers.edu/pmhef502
Check out the new video Wharton State Forest has released!
Visitors to Wharton State Forest with mobility impairments can explore select trails with a reservable Trackchair — an all-terrain, electric-powered wheelchair designed to navigate terrain that may be inaccessible to standard wheelchairs.
Advance reservations are required. To reserve the Trackchair, call the Wharton State Forest Batsto office at 609-561-0024. Only one reservation is accepted per day.
On the day of your reservation, you and your required companion will be asked to sign a waiver. You will also receive a map outlining permitted areas of use, along with an instruction packet that includes operational guidelines and helpful tips for using the Trackchair.
Check out the video – here
Learn more and plan your adventure at Wharton State Forest: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/state-park/wharton-state-forest/
Every resident deserves access to their community’s waterfront but most legacy dock systems weren’t built with accessibility in mind, leaving many visitors unable to safely reach the water.
There are now several companies that design and manufacture ADA compliant floating dock systems engineered for the demands of public parks and municipal waterfronts. These companies help you meet accessibility standards without compromising durability or design.
Check out there websites:
AccuDock – Custom Residential & Commercial Floating Docks
Boardsafe – BoardSafe Docks