Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group
Welcome to Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group! We are based out of Highland Park, NJ, but open to anything environmental anywhere on our one planet. Thus far, most of the work we have done has been trash clean-ups in and around Highland Park and along the Raritan River. We have been doing clean-ups in “natural” areas and “in town” as well. Clean-ups are usually all ages. See below for the latest details on dates and locations. We have worked with several other groups including Sustainable Highland Park, Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership, and Beautiful Edison. In the future, we plan to do much more.
We are now also maintaining the rain gardens in town. We have done some of the weed removal and trimming, with more to do. After that, we will be planting. We will continue to maintain the gardens in perpetuity. See below for any scheduled rain garden work. Dates, times, and locations will be added as they become available.
If you wish to contact us, join our clean-up mailing list, suggest a clean-up location, add your clean-up details to the list, have a joint clean-up, sign-up for our rain garden email list, or for any other reason, you can email us at hpeegnews@gmail.com
Below is a list of currently scheduled cleanups and the groups running them. HPEEG plans to be present for all (if possible). Details will be updated as they become available. For all clean-ups gloves, bags, grabbers, and other equipment will be provided. Clean-up details are added as they are determined, so please refresh the page to see the latest details. SHP/HPEEG dates for for clean-ups for 2026 are now available! Exact times (generally 2 hrs in the 9:00 am to 12:00 pm range) and exact locations for some are to be determined. All clean-ups are weather permitting so check back for any cancellation notices. Below the clean-ups is the schedule for rain garden work. Rain garden work is all ages, and all supplies will be provided.
CLEAN-UPS
Sunday April 19, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – Along the Raritan River on the Meadows Trail – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Meet along the Riverfront at the end of Meadows Trail. The trail begins just off the intersection of South 5th Ave and Valentine Street. Enter the trail and stay to the right until you reach the River. Highland Park, NJ 08904
Saturday May 2, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – Pre-Earth Day clean-up – North 3rd Ave, rain gardens, Raritan Ave – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Meet in the parking lot on North 3rd and Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Saturday May 2, 2026 – Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership – Multi-site Greenbrook Cleanup – 9:30 am – 12:00 pm – For more information and to register visit: https://lowerraritanwatershed.org/event/may-2-multi-site-green-brook-clean-up/
Sunday May 17, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – Environmental Center and Native Plant Sanctuary – 9: am – 12:00 pm – Meet in the parking lot on River Road across from Harrison Ave. Highland Park NJ, 08904
Saturday June 6, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – Municipal lot on South 3rd and surrounding area – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Meet in the Municipal lot on South 3rd between Raritan Ave/Rt 27 and Magnolia Street. Highland Park, NJ 08904
Sunday June 21, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Location TBD
Saturday July 11, 2026 (Moved from July 4) – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Location TBD
Sunday July 19, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – Irving School – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Meet at the entrance on South 11th Ave., Highland Park, NJ 08904
Saturday August 1, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – Bartle School – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Meet at the picnic tables on Mansfield Street, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Sunday August 16, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – High School/Middle School – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Meet in the parking lot off North 5th Ave., Highland Park, NJ 08904
Saturday September 5, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Location TBD
Sunday September 20, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Location TBD
Saturday October 3, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Location TBD
Sunday October 18, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Location TBD
Saturday November 7, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Location TBD
Sunday November 15, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Location TBD
Saturday December 5, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Location TBD
Sunday December 20, 2026 – Sustainable Highland Park/Highland Park Ecology and Environmental Group – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Location TBD
RAIN GARDENS
Saturday April 18, 2026 – Rain Garden weeding and pre-planting maintenance – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Meet at the rain gardens on South 4th Ave just off Raritan Ave/Rt 27. Highland Park, NJ 08904
Saturday May 16, 2026 – Rain Garden Planting – 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – Meet at the corner of South 4th Ave and Raritan Ave./Rt 27. Highland Park, NJ 08904
LINKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Sustainable Highland Park: sustainablehighlandpark.org/
Highland Park Environmental Commission: https://hpenvironmentalcommission.org/
Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership: https://lowerraritanwatershed.org/
Beautiful Edison: htttps://BeautifulEdison.com
Edison Community Gardens Initiative: https://edisoncommunitygardens.org/
Reformed Church of Highland Park: https://www.rchighlandpark.org/
New Jersey Litter Picker: https://www.facebook.com/groups/269732495173783