Meadowlands: Dekorte Park & Pontoon Ride

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Leader: Chris Takas
Transportation: Carpool Trip with a public transportation option: While carpool rides for everyone usually work out, there is no guarantee of enough volunteer drivers to accommodate all participants. The Registrar will work to organize rides and to notify participants when a rental car may be necessary. Registrar will also inform participants of the carpool fee, which is based on the trip location; the cost of any rental cars should be split evenly by those participants. A bus from Port Authority to Rutherford NJ will be best for some participants, assuming drivers are available to pickup from Rutherford.
Meeting Point: After your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: Expect to start in the early morning and bird until noon.
Relative Difficulty: Requires sitting still in a pontoon and then walking on flat terrain.

Trip Description: The Meadowlands District and River Barge Park are just 4 miles from Manhattan. The area is being restored to benefit all wildlife, including birds, and to provide easy access to nature in the shadow of NYC. We will explore the waterways (part of the Hackensack River watershed) by pontoon boat from 8-10 am, followed by a 60-90 minute walk in Richard W. DeKorte Park, also part of the Meadowlands. Our leader is Christopher Takas, Board Member and Trip Committee leader at Bergen County Audubon. Directions will be provided for driving, and also for transportation via bus or train. Expected expenses are driver compensation or public transit + taxi costs; also it is also customary to tip the pontoon Captain.

Please read The Linnaean Society of New York COVID-19 Field Trip Guidelines before registering.

Registration: Registration opens at 9 am on Monday, May 25. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Wednesday, June 3. Members (and those who have applied for membership) will be prioritized over non-members.

Please read the About Our Trips page, if you’re going on a field trip for the first time. It details our field trip policies, recommends what to bring on a trip, and offers other useful information, pro tips, and tricks.

If after visiting the About Our Trips page, you still have questions, feel free to contact the Registrar via email.