Camden Leaders Decide on Expanding Green Stormwater Infrastructure

The Camden SMART Initiative has completed 49 green infrastructure projects that capture over 60 million gallons of stormwater annually, setting the stage for decisions on additional sites and partnerships in Camden, New Jersey.

The program, founded in 2011 by a coalition including Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, the City of Camden, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension, targets stormwater management to protect human health and improve water quality in the Delaware River watershed. Recent progress has drawn attention to how the city will maintain momentum and address remaining infrastructure gaps amid ongoing urban development pressures.

Built Projects and Community Reach

Work completed so far includes the planting of 1,458 trees and distribution of 223 rain barrels to residents. These efforts have engaged 4,000 community members while focusing on green infrastructure such as tree plantings and rain barrels to reduce sewer overflows into streets and waterways. The projects form part of a broader approach to urban water infrastructure that combines construction with resident training and participation.

Decisions on Scaling Ahead

With the current set of projects operating, attention now turns to choices about where to locate future installations, how to secure continued funding, and whether to deepen ties with local organizations already involved. Officials and partners must weigh priorities for extending coverage across additional neighborhoods while tracking results from the existing network. The initiative’s track record provides a base for these determinations, though timelines and exact project lists remain subject to upcoming reviews and resource allocation.

Program operators continue to monitor performance of the completed sites as they prepare recommendations for any next phase of construction and outreach.