In a letter sent last month, the New Jersey Department of Treasury ordered Children's Garden executive director Michael Devlin to remove all property by March 31. The state has proposed that the Camden City Garden Club, which runs the children's garden, rent a few of the offices and one greenhouse but that the land be transferred to its for-profit neighbor.
The letter came after three years of attempted negotiations by the state to get the garden to move. Devlin has put up a fight all three years.
The point of contention is whether the Children's Garden has a right to be on the property. The deed and tax records are unclear.
"It's not fair to have this limbo area," Norcross said. He hopes a meeting with the involved parties will resolve the issue and reopen the conversation between the state and Devlin.
"We are open to participating in further dialogue about the future of the Children's Garden with Sen. Norcross and other interested parties," Department of Treasury spokesman Bill Quinn said.
Though the state has not disclosed the aquarium's plans for the site, Quinn has said that the aquarium's planned expansion would be additional economic development for the city.
The aquarium has not disclosed its plans for the site, either.
Mayor Dana L. Redd said last week that she supported the garden's staying on site and was working with state officials to work out a deal.
Tuesday's planned march to City Hall is to rally public support and to get some clarification from City Council on the land ownership.
"We want to talk to Council, which is where the project started in 1994," Devlin said, adding that he did not recall Council's authorizing the transfer of the land to the state.
"Probably our offices are on state land, but the garden is city land, would be my contention," Devlin said.
City Council President Frank Moran did not return a call for comment Friday.
Contact Claudia Vargas at 856-779-3917 or cvargas@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @InqCVargas. Read her blog, "Camden Flow," at www.philly.com/camden_flow.
