Community Profile

Summary

In 2021, Julia Diez, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South Class of 2025, raised funds from sale of native plants to fund the registration fee for West Windsor to work towards becoming a NWF Certified Wildlife Community. As Team Lead, she has coordinated meeting all requirements except one - having 250 private residences certify as wildlife habitats. In 2020, there were 17 habitats certified. Today, there are over 70 due to Julia's efforts and native plant give-aways, which she grows from seed. West Windsor is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, in the United States. The township is part of the New York metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau. West Windsor is made up of about 50% open space, and we love to hike, bike and play in our many parks and recreation facilities. Excellent environmental stewardship has always been a priority, and in addition to our aggressive preservation of open space, farmland and a natural green belt we are constantly striving for more walkable streets and safe bike lanes. We are Sustainable Jersey Silver level, Solsmart Silver certified and designated a Tree City USA. In February 2021, the West Windsor community registered with the NWF with a goal to become a Wildlife Habitat Community. Since then, Wild for West Windsor, the team leading these efforts, has organized a bulk purchase for 175 native shrub seedlings from the NJ DEP on behalf of West Windsor residents for planting in private township properties, has partnered with NWF, West Windsor Shade Tree Commission and Girl Scouts and planted 200 trees at Duck Pond Park (Cadette Silver Award Project), and is currently working in partnership with the West Windsor Environmental Commission to create native plant exhibition gardens around township parks and preserved open space.