Welcome to the Voorhees Environmental and Cultural Education Foundation

Voorhees Township, Camden County, New Jersey is a suburban community that is approximately 11.6 square miles. The area is steeped in history and became a township on March 3, 1899. Originally home to many Native American tribes such as the Lenni-Lenape, Nanticoke People and the Osage, today this township has more than 28,000 residents. In the late 1800's many farms and mills started to shape the landscape. Among them was the Stafford Farm, owned by members of the Stafford family whose patriarch John Stafford was the personal guard of General George Washington. In 2004, the land was purchased from the Stafford family and is now preserved as farmland and open space.

The Voorhees Environmental and Cultural Education Foundation (VECEF), a non-profit organization consisting of citizens of Voorhees, is undertaking the reuse of a former 37-acre landfill to enhance the quality of life for township citizens and restore vitality to the area surrounding the landfill.

The landfill property accepted trash from 1959 through 1978. Following the cessation of these operations, the property remained fenced off from the community. The property is currently undergoing remedial activities that are being conducted under the oversight of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that the property will be protective of human health and the environment. A baseline study of the landfill and a subsequent wetlands evaluation have identified swamp pink (Helonias bullata) in the intermittent stream area to Las Brisas Lake, however, no additional occurrence of listed threatened or endangered plant species was identified, and no known permanent occupations of listed threatened or endangered animal species were identified. In addition, the landfill does not contain the presence of any sites on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

Carefully planned and well-maintained green spaces are viewed as community assets in which residents can enjoy the pleasures of simple activities. To this end, through careful and diligent effort, the VECEF will take this community eyesore and transform it into a community focal point. The reuse plan details the transformation of this property into a community park that will provide open space for passive recreation. This initiative has strong community input, and many citizens have participated in the overall planning process.

The Voorhees Environmental and Cultural Education Foundation is pursuing grant programs that can be used to assist in the development of pedestrian and hiking trails and bike paths that will be enjoyed by the citizens of the township. In addition, the landfill reuse effort includes an Asian Gardens feature that will highlight plant life from the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Indian, and Korean cultures. This property will also include walking paths and benches to be used by citizens for reflection and meditation. Moreover, an amphitheater, wildflower and indigenous flower displays, a bird and wildlife sanctuary, as well as an Environmental/Educational/Cultural Center have also been discussed. The park and hiking trails, bike paths and additional amenities will be maintained by the VECEF in partnership with Voorhees Township, community volunteers and additional formed partnerships that will include Rutgers and Stockton Universities.

Currently, the Voorhees Environmental and Cultural Education Foundation is developing a business and financial plan to facilitate the community's participation in the smart growth and brownfield efforts being undertaken in Voorhees Township.

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