New Jersey Meadowlands – Richard Dekorte Park
March 7th, 2016 by Mr. C
The Richard W. Dekorte Park in Lyndhurst, NJ – about 10 miles west of NYC and just a hop, skip, & jump away from the Meadowlands Sports Complex which includes Metlife Stadium (formerly Giant Stadium) is a wetland oasis of refuge and habitat for nesting/migrant aquatic animals and birds. The park provides a wonderful resource and an up-close look for visitors to observe the Meadowlands’ abundant wildlife and sustainable landscape. Tidal waters, marshes, and uplands make up the habitat of the park that once was slated to be a landfill, an experimental park on a landfill that is no longer experimental. The park contains about 3.5 miles of paths including the Marsh Discovery trail which utilizes a boardwalk that connects a series of islands and marshes for visitors to observe and take photographs of birds and aquatic animals. The Transco and Saw Mill Creek trails provide great views and examples of tidal mudflats along with the shorebirds that make it home. Everything about this park screams nature, wildlife, preservation, sustainability, & ecological diversity. All of this beauty available right in our backyard of urban NJ and NYC! Go and explore the park for yourself! It’s fast becoming one of my favorite spots to get a stroll in with a chance to spot some raptures and other bird delights! There are other arts & science events/activities going on around the Dekorte Park as well including the William Mcdowell Observatory which features a research-grade telescope, open to the public for free (I think it’s in renovation mode at the current moment) & The Meadowlands Environment Center has public programs from animal visits and marsh activities to lectures and concerts. The Flyway Gallery has bi-monthly exhibits featuring local environmental artists. The Memorial Butterfly Garden was created to honor the Rutherford resident, Jill Ann Ziemkiewicz, who was the youngest member of the flight crew on TWA Flight 800 which fell into the ocean off Long Island on July 17, 1996. You can also catch the WCT Memorial Cove, a water’s edge tribute that reflects the pre-9/11 Manhattan Skyline.
Richard W. Dekorte Park
2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
(Marsh Discovery Trail)
(Lyndhurst Nature Reserve area)
(Transco trail)
(Transco trail stretches out almost to the Western Spur NJ Turnpike)
(Saw Mill Creek Trail)
(a birdhouse amongst the power lines in the background)
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