The N.J. Meadowlands Commission’s thoughts go out to all who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. DeKorte Park and other Meadowlands sites took a huge hit from Hurricane Sandy. Major cleanups are underway.
We understand that our parks are a major public resource for birders and non-birders alike, and we want to get them open again as soon as possible, butthe public's safety is our paramount concern.
An update on our parks and natural areas follows.
In response to Superstorm Sandy, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are sponsoring a series of cleanups in parks and natural areas in the region.
The first is scheduled for this Sunday (Nov. 18) from 10 a.m. to noon at Harrier Meadow in North Arlington.
We will be picking up trash and recyclables – glass bottles, metal cans and plastics — in this 70-acre natural area, where huge amounts of debris were deposited by the storm.
Important information — including two more scheduled cleanups — follows.
You must sign a 2012 cleanup liability release to participate in our upcoming cleanups. You can download one here:
Sean Sullivan of nj.com just posted a story and slide show on the storm damage to Meadowlands Commission sites, including DeKorte Park, River Barge Park and Mill Creek Marsh.
The link is here.
To show folks some of the damage that Meadowlands parks and natural areas sustained from Hurricane Sandy, the Meadowlands Commission has put together this quick video. (This is the video shown at Wednesday night's BCAS program in the Meadowlands Environment Center.)
In the instance of DeKorte Park, we also showed some photos of the park after 400 tons of debris — largely dead Phragmites stalks, known as wrack — were removed. After these photos were taken, similar progress has been made in Harrier Meadow.
Once the "heavy lifting" is done and a park is deemed safe enough, we will begin volunteer cleanups. Scroll down for more info on how to volunteer.
To read Michael Copley's article in The Record today about the extent of the damage, click here.
Dennis Cheeseman photographed these Hooded Mergansers at the Clay Avenue wetlands in Lyndhurst this week. (Thanks, Dennis!)