Effective 9/8/20 – Hours are 7am – 7pm daily
An ecological wonder, Richard DeKorte Park is New Jersey’s first park built atop a landfill, a feat accomplished using a liner made of 400,000 recycled soda bottles. Now that’s turning trash into treasure!
Boasting 3.5 miles of stroller-friendly trails, an environmental center, and butterfly pollinator garden, there’s something interesting to explore around every corner. All 6 trails are short, ranging from 1/4 of a mile to 1 mile, and 5 of the 6 are also wheelchair accessible. We really enjoyed the 1/2 mile Marsh Discovery Trail and spotted 6 egrets, many of which were in flight and even one catching and gulping down a fish lunch! As we meandered down the trail, 2 tortoises rested on a log, ruddy ducks enjoyed a leisurely swim, and spiders spun artistic webs along the scaffolding. We even spotted a bird’s nest perched atop a tall tree on the 1/4 mile Kingsland Overlook trail.
Richard DeKorte Park has a similar vibe to Mill Creek Marsh and Richard Rutkowski Park, but what made this park stand out was the striking and harmonious juxtaposition of the Manhattan skyline, NJ turnpike, and abundance of wildlife in its shadow. Larger than other parks, Richard DeKorte offers much closer views of birds in their natural habitat and has even been recognized as one of the top birding spots in the nation.
The Park Mama Tips:
- Pack sunscreen and plan an AM visit to beat the heat. Most of the Marsh Discovery Trail (our favorite one) is sun exposed, though there are several shaded resting spots strategically placed along the path.
- The railings widen the further along you walk down the Marsh Discovery Trail. Be especially attentive with little ones, as the water’s edge is very close to the trail.
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