Turtle Patrol

From left: Randall Solomon, executive director, Sustainable Jersey, Downe Township; Nadine Lockley, clerk; Liz Cowley, Green Team chair; Laurie Williams, Green Team secretary; Shelia Levine, Green Team member; and Mayor Mike Rothman.

Downe Township earns 2025 Sustainable Creativity and Innovation Award.

Downe Township was honored recently with the 2025 Creativity and Innovation Award from Sustainable Jersey, recognizing the township’s forward-thinking approach to environmental stewardship and problem-solving.

This annual award celebrates municipalities that foster a culture of creativity and innovation in advancing sustainability goals. Downe Township earned the recognition for its Turtle Patrol initiative, an effort led by the Downe Township Green Team to protect vulnerable diamondback terrapins. The program mobilizes residents to safeguard nesting areas and help guide the turtles safely back to the bay after laying their eggs.

“Our residents have always been committed to being good stewards of our natural habitat and the wildlife that make it their home,” said Downe Township Mayor Mike Rothman. “The Turtle Patrol is an example of Downe Township residents supporting the sustainability of the diamondback terrapins.”

“It’s inspiring to see communities of every size across New Jersey leading the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “These municipalities are not waiting for change, they’re creating it, through action, innovation, and collaboration.”

For more information about the Downe Township Green Team, call 856-447-3100.