CRANFORD — A waterfall, flowing pond and aquatic plants will beautify the Cranford Community Center atrium and provide a bubbling, relaxing sound for everyone to enjoy. Construction will start this spring. The water feature will be located on the left side of the atrium near the fireplace and will restore the current dormant water garden built in 2009. Cranford’s three garden clubs, the Floraphile Garden Club, the Garden Club of Cranford and the Green Thumb Garden Club of Cranford, under the direction of Chairperson Deb Murphy, had applied to the National Garden Clubs (NGC) for funds for the project, and received a “Plant America” grant to get started, the only NGC grant awarded to garden clubs in New Jersey. The three clubs have been collaborating with Cranford Recreation Director Steve Robertazzi since February to design the new water garden. The pond will be constructed by Robert Bellek of Lily Pad Ponds, an award-winning, creative aquatic designer and frequent speaker at Rutgers University’s horticultural programs, and will include trickling water, a pond with water lilies, lighting, assorted woodland plants and stone. The local community can help support this project by attending a gourmet brunch buffet at the Pairings Palate and Plate restaurant, located at 10 Walnut Avenue, Cranford. It will take place on Sunday, June 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring their own prosecco/wine. Tickets are $55 per person. They may be obtained by contacting Sue Matlosz at CRANFORDWATERGARDEN@gmail.com or they may be purchased at the front desk at the Cranford Public Library, located at 224 Walnut Avenue, Cranford. Seating is limited, so interested persons are encouraged to reserve their tickets as soon as possible.

Hundreds of people use the Cranford Community Center weekly. As they move through the atrium they may see what appears to be a pile of rocks beneath the stairs to the second level. On closer examination, you'll find some piping and smooth stones that once were part of a water garden.