Teaneck Creek Park Highlights New Features With Month Of Programs

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A newly relaunched Teaneck Creek Park is running a month-long series of programs highlighting all that the site offers.

The wetlands site, which reopened in October after a $7 million eco-restoration project, is reporting to stakeholders through May what has been going on in this section of Bergen County's Overpeck Park, spokespersons said.

"We are excited to share our newly restored (park) with the community," said Kathleen Farley, executive director of Teaneck Creek Conservancy — the nonprofit dedicated to the reclamation and protection of the Teaneck Creek watershed. "...for the first time in 70 years, our park has a functioning wetland."

May's reopening celebration kicked off with a talk on the natural history of the New Jersey Meadowlands, and will feature a public information session Monday on stormwater management and biodiversity at Teaneck Creek Conservancy.

Next week will be a free jazz concert in the parking lot as performed by a swing sextet and a native plant walk, among other activities.

“The conservancy’s reopening program calendar has been curated to introduce people to the new park features," executive director Farley said. "We hope to provide something of interest for everyone..."

TCC was closed for two years while undergoing the county-led project, which worked to enhance the 20-acre site's natural resources, increase biodiversity, mitigate stormwater erosion, and improve public access and community health / wellbeing, spokespersons said.

"The project restored freshwater wetlands within the park, and (the site) has become a veritable... sanctuary for native flora and fauna," county spokesperson Derek Sands said. "Especially notable are the innovative regenerative stormwater conveyance techniques..."

TCC spokesperson Isabel Medina said the park's reopening events have been curated to tell the "miraculous story" of the site's milestones over the past 20-plus years, and have served as a way for visitors to connect with "nature, history and art."

Thanks to the Teaneck community's efforts, TCC has achieved "tremendous milestones" for the North Jersey community to witness through this series of events, Sands said.

"This (restoration) project (was) about the continuation of reclaiming park land for Bergen County residents...," County Executive James Tedesco said. "Through innovative infrastructure and clean, nature-based stormwater management practices, this restoration allows wildlife to thrive in a beautiful, healthy environment.”

Check out the full reopening programming at http://www.teaneckcreek.org/upcoming-programming.