Highland Park Environment

Juvenile Osprey in the process of being banded. Photos by George Pitcher (6/25/09)

Better view of juvenile osprey

Local Highland Park resident George Pitcher participated in the banding of two juvenile ospreys at a tidal marsh in Cheesequake, NJ and took the above pictures. The birds were approximately 3-4 months old and were expected to fledge (begin flying) in two weeks. Volunteers and wildlife officials banded the birds, which were sitting on the nesting platform. They used a ladder to remove the birds from the platform, banded them, and then replaced them on the nest.  The juveniles ospreys did not appear stressed by the process and the circling osprey parents did not attack the volunteers. The banding is part of a federal/state program to track these previously endangered birds.

During the summer, ospreys can frequently be seen soaring above the Raritan River. They hover and then dive into the river for fish. They are frequently seen above the river.  Donaldson Park and Johnson Park are good places to observe them.

Link to Wikipedia Article on Osprey

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The Highland Park Enviromental Commisssion is sponsoring a “Weedbusters!” Event to remove the invasive weed Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) from the Meadows

The invasive weed Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Purpose: To help remove the invasive weed Garlic Mustard from the Meadows

When: June 27 and June 28. 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Where: Highland Park Meadows, Corner of Valentine Street and South 5^th Avenue

Equipment: Work gloves

Requirements: Volunteers will need to sign a Volunteer Waiver; Volunteers under 18 will need a parent to co-sign waiver form. Waiver Form can be obtained here.

Questions: Send us a message.

Volunteers from Sigma Phi Delta (Rutgers)

On Saturday, April 18, there was a very successful clean up of The Highland Park Meadows, the 18 acre natural area located between Donaldson Park and the Edison border. Restoration work was also carried out on Saturday at the site, which is returning to a more natural environment that includes the Raritan River flood plain, wetlands, forest and meadow areas on the plateau areas of the site.

The Meadows Cleanup was organized by NJ Community Water Watch and the Highland Park Environmental Commission and co-sponsored by Sigma Phi Delta, Delta Sigma Iota (Rutgers University) and the Nature Club of the Reformed Church of Highland Park.

Water Watch recruited over 100 volunteers from Rutgers with many from Sigma Phi Delta and Delta Sigma Iota. There were also numerous volunteers from the Reformed Church Nature club and the community.

The event began at 10:00 AM with brief remarks by Council President Elsie Foster-Dublin and Freeholder Jim Polos on the importance of preserving places like The Meadows and ensuring the sustainability of our communities.

Saturday’s event at The Meadows had several particular goals:

1. Removal of trash that been dumped in The Meadows.
2. Removal of debris and plastic bottles along the Raritan
3. Improving the Meadows Trail
4. Removal of invasive vines, bushes, and plants from the site.
5. Introducing nature to some of the volunteers
6. Promoting a spirit of community and volunteerism

The volunteers removed more than fifty bags of recyclables, more than fifty bags of trash, and large piles of debris including about a half ton of metal (from shopping carts to washing machines). The volunteers smoothed approximately 1500 feet of trail in preparation for its new woodchip surface and cut and removed over an acre of invasive vines and bushes.

Saturday was a glorious warm sunny day and the volunteers, despite working very hard, had a great time, learned a lot, and significantly improved The Meadows. We had volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. See images below.

The Highland Park Environmental Commission would like to thank all the volunteers for committing their time and energy to this project. We would particularly like to commend the students from Rutgers for their dedication to service and to NJ Water Watch for mobilizing the volunteers and for their part in organizing the cleanup. We would like to thank the Highland Park Department of Public Works for the appropriate disposal of all of the trash and recyclables.

The Meadows Cleanup was one of the activities in the  5^th Annual Raritan-Wide Earth Day River Cleanup, which was organized by the Raritan River Earth Day Coalition. They mobilized over 1300 volunteers for cleanup efforts in communities along the Raritan River to show community support for the protection and restoration of the river. NJ Community Water Watch organized three of the sites along the Raritan River, mobilizing over 400 volunteers.  NJ Community Water Watch’s website is www.njwaterwatch.org

Elsie Foster-Dublin Borough Council President

Freeholder James Polos and Daughter

NJ Community Water Watch Volunteers

Volunteers Carrying Out the Trash from the Raritan River

Volunteers from Delta Sigma Iota Carrying out Trash

Lots of Trash Removed from Meadows

Carrying Out the Trash

Smiling Volunteers

More Smiling Volunteers

Look What They Found

Even More Smiling Volunteers

The Whole Family Joining in Down by the Raritan

A Senior Volunteer

New Message Board at the Trailhead

Beginning of Meadows Trail

The Meadows with Trail Outlined