Just in time for summer – and the height of butterfly season – the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is offering a brand-new free guide to the butterflies of DeKorte Park. 

The pamphlet is one of a series of nature guides that have been updated recently to help visitors better enjoy the Hackensack River, its tributaries and other attractions.  

The colorful brochure features color photos of 18 species of butterflies and two species of moths commonly seen in the Lyndhurst park and environs from late spring to early fall. Also featured are brief sections on butterfly basics, advice on watching butterflies, helpful Internet links and useful butterfly guidebooks for this region.  

The guide was produced in time for DeKorte Park’s second annual Butterfly Day on Sunday, July 25, as well as the 10th anniversary of the dedication of DeKorte Park’s Jill Ann Ziemkiewicz Butterfly Garden.

The garden was built to honor the memory of a 23-year-old Rutherford resident who was the youngest member of the flight crew on TWA Flight 800, which crashed into the ocean off Long Island in July 1996.  The garden was dedicated in September 2000.

In addition to the new butterfly guide, the Meadowlands Commission has new editions of five other popular guides – a birding checklist for the Meadowlands District and separate brochures with detailed maps for DeKorte Park, the Hackensack River, Mill Creek Marsh Canoe Trail and the Saw Mill Creek Canoe Trail.

   The canoe guide for Saw Mill Creek, which had been out of print for several years, has a revamped design featuring new photos and a wealth of historical information about the marsh.

Visitors can pick up the guides at the Meadowlands Environment Center or the NJMC's Administration Building, both located in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. The one-square-mile  park also features DeKorte Park is home to the NJMC Headquarters, the Meadowlands Environment Center, the William D. McDowell Observatory, the LEED-platinum Center for Environmental and Scientific Education, great views of New York City and local wildlife, plus hiking trails galore. 

    Approximately 60,000 people visit the park each year, including schoolchildren, birders, walkers, astronomy buffs and other nature lovers.    

   The best way to enjoy the Hackensack River is to join one of the Meadowlands Commission's guided pontoon boat cruises. These two-hour excursions depart weekday evenings and weekends from various locations and offer a great chance for visitors to see birds and other wildlife up close.

   The Commission also runs canoe tours of Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus, and Saw Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area in Kearny, departing from Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus.
   For more information on these outings visit the NJMC's website at www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on the "Events and Alerts" button.