The Meadowlands Environment:

Welcome to the Environment Section of our web site.

For the tourist there is information on our Meadowlands Tours. Learn about the history and the present condition of the Meadowlands on a two-hour pontoon boat tour experiencing the Hackensack River and some of its tributaries. Or for the real nature lover, canoe your way through creeks that are home to more than 260 species of birds.

In the Parks section learn about the various recreational areas open to the public and what they have to offer. If you like to hike then you will be interested in the miles of trails and greenways that wind through the landscape.

In the Wetlands section you will learn the importance of this east coast estuary and the acres of wetlands that exist and are being protected within the Meadowlands. Our scientific arm, the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute (MERI), continually monitors and documents the changing environment of the 30.4 square mile District.

Enjoy a day trip and visit the Meadowlands Environment Center (MEC). There are programs for all ages and interests. Enjoy our month art exhibits at the Flyway Gallery.

The most recent addition to our complex is the Center for Environmental and Scientific Education and the William D. McDowell Observatory. The center and observatory provide increased environmental education and outreach opportunities for more than 30,000 residents and students who visit the MEC each year. The observatory’s state-of-the-art telescope will feature an advanced optical guidance system to cut through light pollution and a six-meter retractable dome. The new facility is being constructed to achieve a gold rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

So come on, experience the Meadowlands, there is plenty to do and see for everyone!