Showing people what she called the “wow factory” — the natural wonders that exist in New Jersey's own backyard — is what Gabrielle Bennett-Meany and her colleagues at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority hope to do.
Bennett-Meany serves as the authority's manager of parks, trails and open space and is one of the guides for its free boat tours, which offer visitors close-up access to the Meadowlands' natural wonders.
“When you’re on the highway, sometimes you don’t even know what’s down here,” Bennett-Meany said. “They say, ‘This is amazing. Who knew? I drive over Route 3 every day,’ or ‘I drive on the turnpike every day.’”
With 30 years’ experience in the Meadowlands, she brings an enthusiasm and insight to the experience, providing context about the region as well as the wildlife glimpsed along the way.
When do the Meadowlands tours run?
The authority runs tours weekly throughout the spring and summer,and those looking for a last dose of sunshine can still find a chance through the end of September. There are also walking trails in the Meadowlands region that are open all year round for visitors.
But the boats may be the crown jewel of the operation.
Boat tours that can accommodate about 14 people are led by veteran guides who bring decades of experience studying the wildlife and ecosystem of a vast and still largely overlooked area.
Bennett-Meany called the region the “best-kept secret” and said sometimes that’s for the best, because the makeup of the riverbed can be tricky to navigate, especially for people without experience.
The return of the osprey and the presence of bald eagles have garnered attention in the past, but the difference between hearing a story and seeing it in person can be astounding. And then there’s the peregrine falcon. The fastest animal on the planet — with flight speeds topping 200 miles per hour — can be found nestled into the underside of a bridge along Route 3.
Things like that provide context to visitors.
The marshlands are home to plenty of ducks and seagulls that can be found throughout the region, but watching a flock of cormorants take flight as the boat comes into the dock is a difference maker. It’s something unique — but with American Dream and MetLife Stadium, soon to host the 2026 World Cup, still in view, it's quintessentially Jersey.
The boat tours run along the Hackensack River and into the nearby tributaries and marshes, depending on tides and wildlife.
Bennett-Meany likes to start each tour with a little context about the river and how it works, running from the mountains of upstate New York into New Jersey before meeting the Passaic River and running into the Newark Bay. As a tidal river, it sees fluctuations in the water level, which the tours take into account.
“People live in our communities and are sort of separated from our natural areas, but once we begin to realize that our community is part of these natural areas,” she said, “it makes us think about what we’re doing in our hometown, how we’re connected to the environment and why many, many of these environments are very important.”
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From where do the Meadowlands tour boats launch?
Boats launch from River Barge Park Marina in Carlstadt and venture up and down the river for about two hours. The marina’s manager, Angelo Urato, has watched the agency and the area evolve during 40 years of service.
He said that at low tide, the animals tend to be more active and visitors have a better shot at seeing a variety of species.
Bennett-Meany said having a harbor seal turn up about a decade ago was exciting, but the highlight for her has been the return of the ospreys.
She explained that decades ago, before the Clean Water Act set parameters on pollution, it was common to dump waste in the river, and the water quality was poor.
But wetlands protection efforts led to the rebirth of the area, and as species of fish and birds started to come back, so did the bigger birds that feed on them.
Enter the osprey. About 15 years ago, an osprey turned up. It nested and had young but ultimately failed. A year or two later, they came back and nested, and now they are a constant.
“It’s my favorite resurgence story,” she said.
Although the boating season is coming to an end, the Meadowlands Birding Festival will take place on Oct. 6 and will feature bird walks, talks and other activities at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com
