Wildflower Sculpture Park

Fall Opening Reception
5 Bear Lane, Maplewood

Sunday, September 21st
4:00 - 6:00 PM

Join us for a free event to toast the new additions to the Wildflower Sculpture Park!

The Wildflower Sculpture Park was established in 2012 as a program of the South Mountain Conservancy in collaboration with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Its mission is to create meaningful arts and education experiences with and for the community through the installation, exhibition and interpretation of public art, primarily sculpture.

RSVP: OPENING RECEPTION - Sunday, September 21, 4-6 PM

This year we add TEN new artists to our curatorial program:

Featured Project: nestled (on the stunning alimentation of an egg)
Opening September 20, 2025, this large-scale collaboration by Isabelle Hui Saldana and troizel xx will transform the Aqua Loop trail with 4–6 over-sized, translucent egg sculptures. Each form floats amid the ferns and stones, accompanied by poetic reflections on birth, fragility, and our shared dependence on the environment.

Wonder Women 13: Artist Residency Spotlight
This spring, the WSP launched its first-ever eight-week artist residency program. The selected artists gathered at The Baird and within the Wildflower Sculpture Park to develop temporary installations.
Meet the creators: Gwen Charles, Elainne Diaz, Hao Feng, Melissa Mac Alpin, Anne Percoco, Stephanie Romano, Linda Stricher, and Aggy Wszolkowska.

Follow @wildflowersculpture on Instagram for the most up-to-date information and project details!

Summer Storm & Chainsaw Gang Update

The July 25 windstorm brought down hundreds of trees in the reservation with over 90 of them falling across our trails and regeneration site fences. Our Chainsaw Gang has been hard at work cutting and clearing these trees and almost has them all cleared. We thank all those sawyers who have been sawing away.

Year to date our sawyers have cleared 198 trees!

Seeking new Fairy Trail Co-coordinator!

Join the Fairy Trail Team!

The South Mountain Conservancy is seeking a new volunteer Fairy Trail Program Coordinator to work alongside Beth Kelly in leading our beloved Fairy Trail.

The Fairy Trail is one of our most cherished public programs, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. For many families, it is their very first introduction to the magic of the forest—and a place where wonder takes root.

We’re looking for a passionate, organized volunteer who can help us keep this woodland enchantment alive for all who come to explore.

Interested? Email fairytrail@somocon.org to receive the full role description.

Shipping Container Storage Project

What is the size of a small whale...weighs nearly 8,000 lbs., is hollow, and currently sits near the Dog Park? No, it's not an enormous new sculpture, but a 40-foot steel shipping container that the Conservancy will use for storage for its programs as our tool sheds and personal garages are filled to the brim.
Delivered August 22nd, the container will be lifted by crane onto a gravel foundation alongside the Preserve fence in the next few weeks. Dents have been removed and painting and construction of the foundation will take place this weekend, September 6 and 7 (see details at Meetup/somocon if you want to help).

The County-approved project was suggested and is being deftly orchestrated by SMC volunteer John Sowell who had the container donated by Mark Minnett of MTS Towing in Irvington (it was part of a property fence). John also managed to get hundreds of dollars of paint (so our "whale" blends in with the foliage) from Ralph Ventre of Newark Paint & Wallpaper, also of Irvington. Thanks to these generous merchants, John and the many other volunteers for helping make this needed "room without a view" possible.

Program Update: Fall Family Campout

Due to staffing and scheduling constraints, the South Mountain Conservancy will not host the Fall Family Campout in 2025. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to bringing the tradition back in Fall 2026.

Upcoming Work Days:
Forest Regeneration & Trail Work

RSVP HERE

Free Hikes for Fall!

South Mountain Conservancy is pleased to offer free, guided hikes all through the year! This month we are offering a yoga retreat hike! Give yourself the gift of wellness and join us!

See our Meetup page for schedule and signups:

Meetup Registration

Join the SMC Ambassadors!

The Conservancy Ambassador Program (CAP) is a volunteer initiative designed to build a dedicated team who engage with the public as guides, educators, and advocates for the South Mountain Conservancy’s mission. Volunteers must be 18+. Learn about how to promote the Conservancy and apply here: CAP

Donate

12-Month Membership

Double Your Gift
Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations. Most match contributions dollar for dollar, and some will even triple the amount of your gift! To find out if your company has a matching gift program check with your Human Resources Department.

SHOP
THE
STORE

Would you like to get involved, schedule a program
or have an idea to share?
We'd love to hear from you!

Citizen Science: Lori LaBorde, citizenscience@somocon.org
Chainsaw Gang: David Berry, chainsawgang@somocon.org
Community Outreach: Dave Berry, community-outreach@somocon.org
Fairy Trail: Beth Kelly, fairytrail@somocon.org
Forest Regeneration: Rich Rockwell & Tom Pollard, forestregen@somocon.org
Hikes: Ivette Canjura, hikes@somocon.org
Mayapple Trail Runs: Dennis Percher, Mayapple-Trail-Runs@somocon.org
SMR Family Campout: Penni Malakates & Dennis Percher, familycampout@somocon.org
Trailkeepers: Dennis Percher & Dave Berry, trailkeepers@somocon.org
Trail Work Crew: Dennis Percher & John Verzani, trailwork@somocon.org
Trash Tacklers: Eric Tuvel, trashtacklers@somocon.org
Wildflower Sculpture Park: Doris Cacoilo, sculpturepark @somocon.org
Operations Director: Penni Malakates, opsdirector@somocon.org
SMC Ambassadors: Penni Malakates & John Bylancik, smcambassadors@somocon.org

SHOP THE STORE

SHOP
THE
STORE