Pontoon Boat Tour

Pontoon Boat Tour/Ridgefield, Flat Rock Brook, Overpeck Nature Ctr/Teaneck Creek Sat Jun 11 8:00AM 2011 RSVP on Meetup. PRINT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GPS Device, PRINT OUT THE Mapquest Directions AND TAKE THEM WITH YOU AS WELL. We will begin our day at 8:00 at the Ridgefield Nature Center, Shaler Blvd. & Ray Ave., Ridgefield, Bergen County, NJ 07660, http://www.s./MeadowlandsTrails/Sites/tabid/443/Scope/site/Guide/Meadowlnds/Site/107/Default.x, 201-943-5215 201-943-5215 X353. Please park on Shaler Blvd. This is small park, 5.4 acres of woodlands and a spring fed pool and is the former site of the Great Bear Spring Water bottling plant.

We will take a free tour with Karen and Bruce Riedy, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Environmental Commission, http://meadowlandsconservationtrust.org/blog/meadowlands-conservation-trust/volunteer-spotlight-karen-bruce-riede/. We will tour the park, across the street at the Community Garden and the nearby Skeetkill Marsh Creek, http://www.njmeadowlands.gov/environment/wetlands/wetlands_sites/sm.html. At Skeetkill Marsh Creek, http://www.njwildlifetrails.org/MeadowlandsTrails/Sites/tabid/443/Scope/site/Guide/MEADOWLNDS/Site/97/Default.aspxwe will see a pair of wild monk parakeets nesting on a bridge abuttment.

At 9:30, we will go to the Teaneck Creek Conservancy, 20 East Oakdene Avenue, Teaneck, Bergen County, NJ 07666, 201-836-2403 201-836-2403 , www.teaneckcreek.org. This former dump site is in the process of being restored to a 46 acre park of urban wetlands and has 1.2 miles of trails and boardwalks. Along the trail is artwork made from concrete debris, by Lynne Hull. Hopefully, the new nature center will be now open.

At 11:00, we will go to the Overpeck Preserve Nature Center, Overpeck Park South, Ft. Lee Rd., Leonia, Bergen Couny, NJ 07605, 201-336-7275 201-336-7275 , www.co.bergen.nj.us/Parks. This 125 acre park, is still under restoration from its days as a landfill. Currently, there are: vernal ponds, deciduous woods, nontidal wetlands, streams, mixed swamp, grasslands, open water and lawns.

At 1:00, we will go to the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, 443 Van Nostrand Ave., Englewood, Bergen County, NJ 07631, 201-567-1265 201-567-1265 , www.flatrockbrook.org. This 150 acre natural woodland preserve of the Palisades Forest has 3.5 miles of trails with woodlands, cascading streams, ponds, wetlands, meadows, wildflowers and quarry cliffs.

Assuming we are on schedule, we will try to fit this last park into the day. If we are running overtime, we will skip it. At 3:30, we will go to Hackensack River County Park, Riverside Square Mall and Hackensack River, Hackensack, Bergen Couny, NJ, 07601, 201-336-7275 201-336-7275 , www.co.bergen.nj.us/parks/. We will take the riverside walk, then the boardwalk trails and get a nice view from the observation decks.

At 5:30, we will take our pontoon boat tour, which will leave from Laurel Hill County Park, New County Road, Secaucus, Hudson County, NJ, 07096, www.hackensackriverkeeper.org, 201-968-0808 201-968-0808 , $25/person. We will be touring another area of the river from last time with different tour operators than when we took the pontoon boat tour through the NJ Meadowlands Commission Park Rangers. Heavy rain will cancel the event. YOU NEED TO MAKE A RESERVATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT WILL NOT BE BILLED UNTIL THE DAY OF THE EVENT! You can cancel your reservation up to 24 hours in advance. They need to know how many people will be going, so they can schedule enough boats. BE SURE TO TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE WITH RUTH EISEN, FROM MOSAIC.

At 9:00, we will have a late dinner at Bazookas Sports Bar & Restaurant, Courtyard by Marriott, Harmon Meadow Blvd. & Plaza Dr., 457 Harmon Meadow Blvd., Secaucus, Hudson County, NJ, 07096, www.bazoodassportsbar.com, 201-223-1234 201-223-1234 . There is a 25% discount on the dinner check if you are a police officer, EMT or firefighter with your work/volunteer ID. I also have a 20% discount on the dinner check from the Harmon Meadow Area Director & Coupon Book 2011.

Come for as much of the day as you wish. If you are coming for only part of the day, please let me know when to expect you. This is a kid friendly event, although the whole day may be too much for the younger kids. Pack a large picnic lunch, water, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, sunglasses, hiking shoes, hiking poles, binoculars and light jacket (it can get cold at night, especially with the wind on the boat). There is a $5 nonmember/unpaid member fee.

There is bus service from NY Penn Station to every park and the restaurant. Buy a one way ticket. We will drive you back to another bus stop along the way or you will take the bus from the restaurant at the end of the day to Secaucus Junction.

1) Ridgefield Nature Center. The bus stop is 2 blocks away! Take NJ Transit Line 127-Ridgefield/Union City/NY to Slocum Ave. & Shaler Blvd.

2) Teaneck Creek Conservancy. The bus stop is 1 block away! Take NJ Transit Line 167-Harrington Park/Teaneck/NY to Teaneck Rd. & Hillside Ave.

3) Overpeck Preserve Nature Ctr. Take NJ Transit Line 182-NY(GSB)/Hackensack to Grand Ave. & Ft. Lee Rd. Cross Grand Ave. following Ft. Lee Rd. across the RR tracks. The Equestrian Ctr is a short distance on the left.

4) Flat Rock Brook Nature Ctr. The bus stop is 2 blocks away! Take NJ Transit Line 160-Elmwood Park/Wallington/NY to Broad Ave. & Van Nostram Ave., Englewood. Walk up the hill on Van Nostram Ave.

5) Laurel Acres Park. Take NJ Transit Line 129-Secaucus/Union City/NY or 772-New Milford/Hackensack/Meadowlands to Secaucus Junction. Turn left on Seaview Dr. At the traffic light, turn lf. on New County Rd., which will lead you into the park.

6) Bazookas. See 5). Once you get to Secaucus Junction, take NJ Transit Line 329-Harmon Cove/Secaucus Juntion.