Bergen County Parks Department, Puffin Foundation to Host Information, Q & A Session on Stormwater Management and Biodiversity at Teaneck Creek Conservancy

TEANECK, NJ – The Puffin Foundation and the Bergen County Department of Parks and Recreation invite the public to attend an information session on Stormwater Management and Biodiversity at Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Park designers Kevin Dahms and Ted Brown of Biohabitats, along with Terry Doss from New Jersey Sports Exposition Authority (NJSEA), will explain new park features and their benefits to people and wildlife alike. The public is encouraged to learn and ask questions about the restoration process. The presentation will include a question and answer session followed by a walk through the park with Mike Turso, a NJSEA Wildlife Biologist. The session will be held on Monday, May 15, 5:30pm at the Puffin Cultural Forum at 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck, NJ, 07666. Teenagers and adults are invited to attend. Registration is required. Masks must be worn indoors. Walk-ins are welcome if space remains.

“The grand reopening of the wetlands site is a perfect time for a report to our stakeholders on what’s been going on at this unique section of Bergen County’s Overpeck Park,” said Kathleen Farley, Executive Director of the Teaneck Creek Conservancy.

The two-year, 20-acre wetland restoration project of the Teaneck Creek section of Overpeck County Park worked to enhance the site’s natural resources, increase biodiversity, mitigate stormwater erosion, improve public access to the park and visitor experience, and improve community health and well-being. The project restored freshwater wetlands within the park and has become a veritable wetland sanctuary for native flora and fauna. Especially notable are the innovative Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance techniques, championed by Biohabitats.

“This project is about the continuation of reclaiming park land for Bergen County residents, a major principle laid out in our 2019 Bergen County Parks Master Plan,” said County Executive James J. Tedesco, III. “My administration remains committed to righting the environmental injustices that have occurred in the past at Overpeck County Park and its surrounding areas. Through innovative infrastructure and clean, nature-based stormwater management practices, this restoration allows wildlife to thrive in a beautiful, healthy environment.”

This is a great opportunity for the North Jersey community to witness and take part in the tremendous milestones the Teaneck Creek Conservancy has achieved over the past two decades thanks to environmental, historical, and artistic stewardship efforts of the Teaneck community.

The information session is part of a month-long series of events celebrating the park’s reopening. Check out the full reopening programming at http://www.teaneckcreek.org/upcoming-programming.

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Teaneck Creek Conservancy is a member-supported non-profit organization dedicated to the reclamation and protection of the cultural, historical, and environmental legacy of the Teaneck Creek watershed. Since 2001 we have been working hard to transform a once-neglected dumpsite into a place of natural beauty. Visit our park complete with almost two miles of groomed trails, an Outdoor Classroom for learning, and beautiful artwork such as our Five Pipes Mural and a Peace Labyrinth for quiet reflection. Teaneck Creek Conservancy acts as stewards for this unique space, providing educational opportunities and passive recreational amenities to the surrounding community. www.teaneckcreek.org