Montclair is widely known for its vibrant culinary scene, beautiful natural spaces, and strong sense of community. Montclair also features top-tier public and private schools – such as Montclair-Ontario School District and Montclair State University – which boast renowned educational systems.
Montclair provides residents and their families with an abundance of leisure activities for enjoyment and development. Residents can visit the Montclair Plaza Shopping Center with its selection of shops and eateries or the Montclair Museum of Art and Science for entertainment and education purposes. In addition, Chaffey Joint Union High School District Planetarium provides educational experiences that children of all ages will appreciate while the Montclair Library boasts numerous resources and programs designed to assist families learn together and grow together.
Montclair is home to many iconic public spaces, but one that stands out among them is the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Established as a tribute to Frank H. Presby – one of the founding members of the American Iris Society who died in 1924 with an incredible passion for hybridizing iris flowers – who loved giving his collection away when Mountainside Park was established.
Today, the garden is managed by a volunteer organization and listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The Gardens feature over 3,000 irises and other flowers, in addition to oaks and maples as shade trees, plus several acres of shade trees that offer shelter from mid-April through late November for visitors’ enjoyment – admission is free!
Gardens offer many people an oasis of serenity and beauty. As an escape from everyday stresses, gardens provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about nature while appreciating plant identification. Furthermore, gardens serve an invaluable purpose within scientific and educational communities by serving as both research facilities and teaching tools.
NEEC is working on creating a pollinator pathway through Montclair to ensure Monarch butterflies and other pollinators have safe habitat in Montclair. As part of its effort, hundreds of households have already transformed their yards into organic or native gardens; and more schools and houses of worship are engaging to convert even more gardens.
The township plans to conduct a cultural resource survey of Oakcroft neighborhood in 2019, which may lead to its designation as a local historic district. They have created a website providing details about this endeavor as well as answering resident’s inquiries on how best to stay informed and provide their feedback on this initiative.
