On Saturday, August 13th, 2022, Regional Plan Association (RPA) and Hackensack Riverkeeper will be holding an event celebrating the Meadowlands - its history, ecological significance, and natural beauty. This free event will take place at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus and run from 10:00am until 4:00pm. Activities include free boat and paddling tours and a morning fishing clinic. Come learn about the Meadowlands and check out booths staffed by local environmental groups. Remarks from RPA, Hackensack Riverkeeper, and stakeholders reflecting on the history and significance of the Meadowlands will be given around 12:00pm. The rain date is Saturday, September 24th.

For questions, please email [email protected].

Laurel Hill County Park is located at the end of New County Road in Secaucus, NJ. It is easily accessible from NJ Turnpike (Eastern Spur) Exit 15X, or Route 3 to Meadowlands Parkway.

A transit-oriented recreation area! Did you know that you can get to the Meadowlands by train or bus? There are NJ Transit buses and trains to Secaucus Junction, which is a short walk from Laurel Hill Park. Once outside of Secaucus Junction, follow the walkway toward the elevator/stair tower at Paul Amico Blvd. From the top of the tower, turn left and walk about ⅓ mile into Laurel Hill Park.

The park is located on the east bank of the Hackensack River at the southern end of the New Jersey Meadowlands, directly across from the Saw Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area. Directions available here.

Check out our free activities below. Please be sure to bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a charged cellphone. We also recommend bringing a hat, sunglasses, binoculars, and a waterproof bag.

Fishing Clinic
10:00am

Fun for all ages! Come join us at 10am for a fishing clinic led by Hackensack Riverkeeper and the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association. Learn about the many species of fish who make the Meadowlands their home.

• Equipment will be provided.
• Registration is encouraged. Please arrive 15 minutes ahead of time (9:45am) to check in. Those who arrive late forfeit their registration and their spots may be given to others, depending on demand.

Bout Tours of the Meadowlands
10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm

An Eco-Cruise is a fully narrated environmental education tour and one of the best ways to explore the Hackensack River and the marshes of the Meadowlands! Captain Bill Sheehan started the program in 1994 to increase awareness of the lower Hackensack River as a vital natural and recreational resource. Since then, more than 75,000 people have explored the river. Eco-Cruises are fully narrated by Capt. Bill or Program Director Capt. Hugh Carola, both of whom are US Coast Guard-licensed captains. Join them aboard their pontoon boats for a unique, informative, and fun time on the water. Watch wildlife, explore wetlands, and learn all about the natural and human history of the Hackensack Meadowlands. Be sure to bring your binoculars and cameras!

• Hackensack Riverkeeper will be leading four free Eco-Cruises at 10am, 11am, 1pm, and 2pm, with each tour taking 45 minutes. Each boat can accommodate up to 10 people, with two boats on the water per time slot.
• Registration is encouraged. Please select your preferred time slot and arrive 15 minutes ahead of time to check in. Those who arrive late forfeit their registration and their spots may be given to others, depending on demand.
• To give equal opportunity to participants and reduce the number of no-shows, reservations for multiple time slots for Eco-Cruises will be flagged for follow-up and may be disallowed.
• Children must be at least four years old to come on Eco-Cruises.
• Be sure to click here to download park directions along with important and helpful trip tips.

Paddling Tours (18+ only, experienced preferred):
10:15am, 1:15pm, 3:00pm

Come paddle with us! Since 1999 and continuing today, Hackensack Riverkeeper remains the only operator of canoe/kayak liveries in the watershed. Now fielding a fleet of more than fifty canoes and kayaks, we look forward to providing opportunities to enjoy and explore the river up close. View the Manhattan skyline from a unique perspective, with a thousand acres of protected wetlands in the foreground.

• Hackensack Riverkeeper will be leading three free paddling tours at 10:15am, 1:15pm, and 3:00pm. Each paddling tour is 1.5 hours. Up to 10 people can paddle at a time.
• Registration is encouraged. Please select your preferred time slot and arrive 15 minutes ahead of time to check in. Those who arrive late forfeit their registration and their spots may be given to others, depending on demand.
• To give equal opportunity to participants and reduce the number of no-shows, reservations for multiple time slots for paddling tours will be flagged for follow-up and may be disallowed.
• Paddling tours are adults only. Given water conditions, paddling tours are recommended for experienced paddlers only.
• Personal flotation devices must be worn at all times while on the water.
• Save time and download your waiver.

This event was made possible thanks to support from Edison Properties, Canoe Brook Development, Woodmont Properties, and by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this event do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.