Read all about the History of the Grove of Remembrance
The Grove of Remembrance, located in Liberty State Park, is a 10.8-acre tract where over 750 mature trees, one tree for each New Jersey victim of September 11, 2001, are planted. This memorial allows all who visit a peaceful place to reflect while viewing the Manhattan skyline and the area where the Twin Towers once stood.
The NJ Tree Foundation received a $143,000 grant from the USDA Forest Service to create the Grove of Remembrance, and this NJ Living Memorial is listed as an official Federal Living Memorial site. The Grove of Remembrance includes two walkways that run the length of the tract. The “active walkway” is a tree-lined, linear pathway that leads from one end of the memorial to the other.
The “Walk of Remembrance” is a meandering path that allows visitors to take their time getting from one end of the memorial to the other. At the middle point of the tract, both walkways are linked and lead to a circular area that is the focal point of this Living Memorial.
Here at the Memorial Circle, a large plaque with the names of the New Jersey residents who perished is mounted on stone. Donated shrubs and perennials are planted along the split rail fence and in numerous planting beds. The Grove of Remembrance also includes lawn areas where visitors may sit in the sunshine and reflect upon the changed Manhattan skyline.
On April 21, 2003 Governor James McGreevey and the families of those lost on September 11, 2001, planted the first tree in the Grove of Remembrance. Prior to the tree planting, the families viewed a presentation covering the history of Liberty State Park, and the development of the Grove. Additionally, Jeanne Kavinski, who lost her sister in Tower One, read a poem that her sister wrote “Help a Withered Tree Bloom”.
On Friday, April 25, 2003, Arbor Day in New Jersey, 300 volunteers planted the first 200 trees in the Grove. All 200 trees were planted, mulched and watered in a little over an hour, allowing the volunteers to join in on the Arbor Day Ceremonial activities, and enjoy a nice lunch. A special, quiet planting area was set up for 9/11 family members so they could help plant a tree in memory of their loved ones. NJ Certified Tree Experts, NJ Tree Foundation and Community Forestry staff supervised the volunteers in their planting and mulching efforts.
The Arbor Day Ceremony included a moving speech by Jeanne Kavinski, a family member who assisted with the planning and design of the Grove. Jeanne spoke eloquently about how helping to develop and design the Grove had assisted with her healing. Additionally, awards were presented to the Arbor Day contest winners,Tree CityUSA towns, and a ceremonial tree was planted with state and local officials. For this year’s Arbor Day contest, students were asked to write a short prose on What Trees Mean To Me. The top winners read their poems at the Ceremony, and helped the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection plant the Arbor Day tree.