Restoration of Teaneck Creek’s Wetlands
Teaneck Creek’s Restoration project successfully finished September 2022. On October 19, 2022 the County of Bergen celebrated the restoration project. Over the winter months of 2022-2023 trail usage was limited to allow the newly planted plants time to put down roots and acclimate. In April 2023, Teaneck Creek Park fully reopened.
This project began in the early 2000’s with a vision of creating an ecologically restored people’s park.
Below you can read through the two decade journey to create 20 acres of freshwater wetlands or check out Bergen County’s Department of Parks restoration update page.
BCAS President Don Torino addresses the crowd at the reopening ribbon cutting.
County Executive Jim Tedesco III, the Teaneck Creek Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers.
A White-tailed Deer moves through the restored wetlands.
Plant and wildlife have abounded in the years since the restoration. Pictured is a Great Egret which is now a frequent visitor to the park’s wetlands.
Project Goals
This project has six primary goals:
Enhance the site’s natural resources
Increase biodiversity
Mitigate the erosive forces of stormwater throughout the site
Improve public access to the park and visitor experience
Improve community health and well-being
Educate the public about the park’s habitat and ecology
The project will achieve these goals through the following actions:
Restoring the way water flows across the site through natural stormwater conveyance systems
Regrading portions of the site to create wetland habitat
Relocating and consolidating debris piles
Improving trail conditions
Removing invasive species and replacing them with native grasses, shrubs, and trees
PROJECT SUMMARY
This 20 year initiative resulted in the restoration of 20 acres of freshwater wetlands within the Park, removal of debris from publicly accessible areas, and an increase in the diversity of plants and animals. Community Science efforts to verify this have been ongoing since Summer 2023.
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance techniques repaired eroded outfalls into the park to protect both natural areas and infrastructure such as nature trails from flooding, erosion, and degradation. This strategy keeps the facilities safe while improving habitat and ecological function.
Future Park access improvements are proposed to address deficient trails; inaccessible due to washouts, and repair and replace footbridges to provide for better public access (anticipated to begin in 2027 or later.)
Maps of the restoration location and project personnel.
Eroded outfalls from before, during, and after the construction of a Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance System that hands the high volumes of precipitation at levels comparable to intact forests.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Overpeck County Park consists of about 1,000 acres that contain a wide variety of programming and amenities. Located in the northwest portion of Overpeck County Park, the 46-acre Area I (also known as Teaneck Creek Park) consists of an established passive trail system initially created by volunteers that brings park users through riparian wetland habitats, remnants of past human disturbances, and ecological art exhibits throughout the park.
Through a partnership started in 2001, the non-profit Teaneck Creek Conservancy has organized citizen volunteers to care for the park while providing passive recreation and environmental education programs with a unique emphasis on Eco-Art community projects. In 2007 the County and Conservancy teamed with Rutgers University to develop a conceptual restoration plan for the park focusing on developing a quality restored wildlife habitat on the site which could serve as a model for the Overpeck Creek watershed and other highly urbanized areas in the NY/NJ metropolitan region.
Since the Conservancy began in 2001, volunteers have removed multiple dumpster loads of debris, including automotive parts, construction materials, and discarded household appliances, from the site using only hand tools. The remaining fill was too heavy to lift or located in inaccessible areas. Some concrete debris was recycled into artwork by an artist and volunteers creating a Peace Labyrinth and a separate project, also lead by an artist, created concrete "Migration Mileposts" to celebrate the birds that pass through the site when migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.
In 2014 the Department of Parks retained an ecological restoration firm to perform the final habitat and wetlands restoration plan for Teaneck Creek Park.
BERGEN COUNTY PARKS MASTER PLAN
The proposed park is consistent with the vision, goals, and objectives of the Bergen County Parks Master Plan that was adopted by Freeholder Resolution No. 19-35 on December 18, 2019. The companion Bergen County Department of Parks Inventory, dated April 9, 2019 observed and recommended for Teaneck Creek Park: The park is completely overgrown with invasive plants, including extreme densities of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), common reed (Phragmites australis), mile-a-minute vine (Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross, porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolate). In order to restore this ecosystem the invasive plants must be removed and native species reintroduced and maintained. Signage throughout the park is not uniform and many signs are in need of repair or weathered enough to make them unreadable. New, updated and weather-resistant signage is needed. (Page 66)
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Teaneck Creek Conservancy is the nonprofit partner responsible for stewarding Teaneck Creek Park on behalf of Bergen County Department of Parks. The Conservancy has a Board of Trustees, 1.5 staff, and many volunteers. Community members wishing to become involved have typically done so through the auspices of the Conservancy. Conservancy advocacy led the County to pursue the restoration of the park. Once the County committed to the restoration, the County became the driver of the project, securing partners and funding.
Updates for the public were provided at key milestones through formal community meetings. During the restoration and the pandemic, some updates were provided through social media.
In 2007, the Department of Parks, the Conservancy and Rutgers University held several planning and community meetings to engage community residents to formulate vision of the wetlands and habitat restoration project for this park. These meetings were followed by two formal public events.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders conducted a public hearing to obtain comments from the public on the County’s grant application to the New Jersey Green Acres Program in Winter of 2017.
The Department of Parks conducted a public meeting in July 2018 to present the 80% completed habitat restoration design plans for public discussion.
During the restoration, in February 2021, an online webinar was scheduled featuring key personnel to update park visitors regarding the progress.
Upon the reopening of the park, in May 2023, a public session was held to reintroduce the community to the rationale for the restoration and project goals. This session was held at the Puffin Foundation and concluded with a tour of the park and its restoration.
In Fall 2024, a public meeting (recorded) and survey were conducted to receive feedback on the restoration and the next phase of work, including trail design and amenities.
Restoration TIMELINE
Winter 2017: The Board of Chosen Freeholders conducted a public hearing to obtain comments from the public on the County’s grant application to the New Jersey Green Acres Program.
July 2018: The Department of Parks conducted a public meeting to present the 80% completed habitat restoration design plans for public discussion.
Fall 2018: Final design for the project was completed by Biohabitats Inc.
July 15, 2020: Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded a contract to an ecological construction company, SumCo Eco-Contracting, to implement the project plans.
Fall 2020: Commencement of construction.
Fall 2022: Completion of construction.
Spring 2023: Full park reopening.
Summer 2023 - ongoing: Invasive Species Management
Late 2023: The Department of Parks began work with MKW+ Associates to address trail conditions and consider amenities for the newly restored park.
Fall 2024: Public input sought to address trail conditions, accessibility, and future ammenities.
Next Phase of work undertaken by MKW+ Associates builds on the successful park restoration (park entrance seen above).
PROJECT FUNDING SOURCES & EXPENSES
The total estimated cost to implement the Teaneck Creek Park Habitat Restoration Project is $5.6 million. Project of this scale are typically funded by various sources including completive grants for the purpose of wildlife habitat restoration/enhancement, wetlands restoration/enhancement, invasive species removal/control; and facilities that provide or enhance public environmental education.
Funding for the project:
New Jersey Green Acres park development and environmental stewardship
Bergen County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund
Bergen County Capital Funding
Expenses: ~ $8.4 million
•Construction Services:
$6.8 million
•Professional Services (Landfill Closure, Design, Construction Management):
$1.6 million
Funding: ~ $8.4 million
•Green Acres Grants:
$1.4 million
•County Funding (Capital Funding
& Open Space Trust Fund):
$7.0 million
Construction during and after photos.
CONTACT
For more information about the Teaneck Creek Park Habitat Restoration Project, please contact
Adam Strobel, Bergen County Department of Parks
One Bergen County Plaza • 4th Floor
Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076
Phone: 201-336-7275
The interior of the park before the restoration consisted of phragmites and other invasive species. After the construction, the interior features small open ponds with native plants.
Additional REstoration resources
Planting Update 2/16/2022
Project Background Update 2/21/2021
North Jersey News Article 9/1/2020
Press Release 8/31/2020