Can you canoe?
The town of Secaucus and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission held a ceremony last weekend to mark the opening of Mill Creek Point park, which includes a boat launch for canoes and kayaks, ornamented wildlife viewing areas, interpretive signage, special landscaping, and places to catch and release fish (which, one environmentalist warned, should not actually be eaten).
The opening was part of an ongoing initiative by the NJMC and the town to preserve open space and link those open spaces by greenways and waterways.
The park will serve as the trailhead for the Mill Creek Canoe and Kayak Trail.
The park is situated between two large tracts of wetlands. To the east is the 260-acre Mill Creek Marsh, a habitat for nesting and migrant aquatic animal and bird populations. To the west is the Secaucus High School Marsh, a 38-acre wetland slated for enhancement.
Within the last several years, the town has purchased acres of prime waterfront property to establish the Secaucus Greenway, a proposed 15-mile trail running parallel to the eastern bank of the Hackensack River. The northern anchor of the Secaucus Greenway is the new 7 1/2-acre Mill Creek Point Park.
Mayor explains history
At the celebration last Saturday, Mayor Dennis Elwell reflected upon the park’s rich history. He explained that his godfather, Tony Calderone, once owned a very popular tavern on the property called “Tony’s Old Mill.” The late Arthur Treacy owned the property after Calderone, and the Treacy family eventually sold the land so the park could be built.
Mayor Elwell said, “In growing up here, Tony’s Old Mill was known to be one of the finest boathouses, restaurants, trap shooting and pistol shooting areas on the entire river, but moreso in the entire region.”
Elwell explained that Calderon was one of the original environmentalists in the area. “Believe me when I tell you, for light years they were ahead of every one of us and all the environmentalists here today,” said Elwell. He said Treacy was a horticulturist. He added, “[I] think he would be extremely proud of what he sees here on his former property.”
Treacy’s son, Patrick, spoke on behalf of the family. He said he remembered the pistol range and boat slips that once existed on the property. “It was quite a place to grow up,” he said.
Elwell also explained that in 1993 an idea was presented to the town to construct high-rise development at the Mill Creek Point area.
He said, “[T]here was a proposal to build high end, high rise housing here with a view of New York City, with a view of the Empire State Building. The developers thought it would be a wonderful spot for restaurants and marinas.”
Elwell credited former mayor Anthony Just for the purchase of the property that eventually led to the park’s creation instead. “It was under that purchase that stopped the development and created what we all see here today,” said Elwell.
The mayor also recognized the assistance of the McGreevey administration, whom he described as “people friendly.”
He said, “I am going to stand here and tell you as the mayor of Secaucus that the McGreevey Administration, which certainly includes [NJMC Chair] Susan Bass Levin and [NJMC Director] Bob Ceberio, have done wonderful, wonderful things for this community. Things that we could have never done and this park is just one example.”
There is more than $2 million dollars invested in the park, according to Elwell. He said, “I think the one thing that is very, very important as you look around this area…you need to realize that no one person accomplished this. It’s not an ‘I’ world anymore. It’s a ‘we’ world.”
Environmental benefits
Hackensack Riverkeeper Bill Sheehan, like the mayor, also spoke about the developmental pressure in the 1990s when there was pressure to turn Mill Creek Point into high rise buildings instead of a park. Sheehan acknowledged that the town made the right decision.
“They embraced the idea immediately,” he said. “It was one of those watershed moments. There was very little discussion. There was no debate.”
While Sheehan celebrated the fact that the river has become cleaner over the years, he informed the audience that the fish in the river should not be eaten.
He said, “I’m holding in my hand the latest fish advisory document that was published by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and our river, unfortunately today, is still off limits to eating the fish.”
Sheehan explained that fish can be caught and thrown back. He also warned that the crabs in the area are the “deadliest crabs on the planet.”
Sheehan made a prediction that the town will eventually host another ceremony, a fish fry, when some day the fish in the river can be eaten.
He said, “We’re going to get this river cleaned up. We’re going to be able to harvest the fish out of here.”
NJMC
Chair of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission Susan Bass Levin emphasized the commission’s commitment to the preservation of open space.
She said, “I look around and I see the opportunity for people to enjoy the outdoors, for children to come play, for seniors to take a walk, for adults to just come sit and relax or perhaps have more active activity or take a canoe ride, but to really be part of this magnificent urban wilderness.”
She pointed out that the park has a view of the Empire State Building. She said, “[Y]ou know that we are close to the city and close to things that are happening, and yet what a magnificent oasis just a step away from things.” She added, “I think it’s important to know that we stand here in the Gateway. And we really consider this not an ending for our involvement in Secaucus, but a beginning.”
Levin made reference to the fact that the park will eventually have an environmental center.
Levin spoke highly of Mayor Elwell. She said, “I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize the mayor for his long-standing efforts to promote environmental awareness within Secaucus and his commitment to the preservation of his town’s natural resources.”
Key to the city
During the ceremony, Elwell presented the key to the city to Levin and Ceberio, who was referred to as the “front line guy.”
The mayor also acknowledged the hard work and dedication of NJMC Commissioner and Superintendent of the Secaucus Department of Public Works Michael Gonnelli.
Levin presented a plaque to Mayor Elwell that reads, “In recognition of Mayor Dennis Elwell of Secaucus for his longstanding efforts to promote environmental awareness within Secaucus and his commitment to the preservation of his Town’s natural resources.”
The mayor started the event by acknowledging the attendance of Deputy Mayor John Reilly, Councilman John Bueckner, Councilman Robert Kickey, Councilman Chris Marra, Councilman Michael Grecco, Joe Kane from the Board of Health, former Councilman Rich Steffens, Library Director Katherine Steffens, Michael Gonnelli, and the Treacy family.
County Executive Tom DeGise spoke about the county’s commitment to preserving open space. He said, “[I]’m looking forward to working with the town of Secaucus over the years to continue to build beautiful spots like this where all of us can recreate and enjoy the environment.”
The mayor also proclaimed the month of October to be breast awareness month. Marianne Moore, a breast cancer survivor spoke about breast cancer awareness.
Vendors present included Weichert Realty, the Secaucus Animal Shelter, the Meadowlands Environmental Trust, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, and a booth for breast cancer awareness. Outback Steakhouse provided food. Live music was also provided.