Join the LRWP and our hosts the Highland Park Environmental Commission for a two hour walking exploration of “The Meadows” – an 18-acre recovering urban forest along the Raritan River in Highland Park that demonstrates how former degraded land can become an ecological treasure!

We will learn how this conservation-zoned site became listed on the NJ DEP Open Space List, where a former municipal landfill (closed 1970) has evolved into thriving habitat. The tour explores trails built and maintained by the Environmental Commission since 2007. Walk the 0.6-mile upper loop trail above the floodplain, featuring six benches for wildlife observation, and the 0.1-mile lower loop providing direct Raritan River access. See the recently upgraded infrastructure funded by an Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC)/Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRP) Foundation grant: a replacement boardwalk in the upper meadows and a new second observation deck overlooking the eastern meadow area.

Discover the site’s ecological richness: over 30 tree species, diverse wildlife including deer, fox, groundhogs, and numerous bird species. The Meadows serves as a critical migration stopping point, with shore birds, egrets, cormorants, ospreys, and eagles frequently spotted spring through fall. Learn why this site is an ecological treasure – similar urban forest recovery sites are rare.

Understand the maintenance model: how a dedicated 10-member Meadows Trail Crew of nearby residents works under Environmental Commission jurisdiction to sustain this popular destination visited by 50-75 people daily year-round. This is an ideal experience for anyone who wants to learn how Environmental Commissions can shepherd long-term urban habitat recovery and build volunteer stewardship programs, or create unique recreational opportunities using municipal resources.

This tour is Part II of a two-part inquiry into “The Meadows.” Part I, to be held via zoom on Thursday March 26, will be a talk by local photographer David Smith. David is Rutgers Assistant Teaching Professor in Landscape Architecture and Coordinator of the Environmental Geomatics Certificate. Special attention will be paid to the ecozones/ecotones of the birds and critters in “The Meadows.”

Limited to 20. Pre-registration required.