Designing and Constructing Rothman Park in Carlstadt

Project Lead

Sep

Henry Pullin

Sep

MRRI staff have been working on the planning, design, and construction of a new park on land owned by the Meadowlands Conservation Trust. The park will be located on an approximate 4-acre site in a portion of the Kane Natural Area in Carlstadt and will be named after Congressman Steve Rothman who was instrumental in protecting the land area where the park is located. Rothman Park will provide a space where visitors can connect with nature and learn about the Meadowlands in an area of the District where there is currently limited public access. The project has been divided into phases that range from more immediate steps like design, site preparation, and the construction of park features to longer term actions like the establishment of meadows and wetland enhancements. The park will include an entrance gate, a small parking area, a walking path, and a gathering area with seating. The walking path will lead to an observation deck where visitors can enjoy fantastic views of the New York City Skyline, the Hackensack River, and restored marshes. The park features will be ADA accessible and low maintenance and the design aims to preserve the existing beneficial natural conditions on site. Rothman Park is expected to be open to the public in the spring/summer of 2025. In the first two years of the project, significant progress has already achieved. Native grasses like broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) and purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) are replacing invasive species, forming diverse mosaics that support wildlife for foraging, breeding, and migration. The pollinator habitat is successfully hosting blooming wildflowers, including beebalm (Monarda punctate), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate), and black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), attracting various insect pollinators. However, challenges such as herbivory, invasive plant encroachment, and limited water availability persist, prompting adjustments in ongoing management strategies. Shrub survival is improving with reinforced fencing and additional protections now in place. The project demonstrates the potential to restore ecological value to urban disturbed lands through proactive management. MRRI is building on this success by expanding efforts on Erie Landfill and developing strategies to alleviate the setbacks of 2024, including using a water trailer and better herbivory guards.

The current view from Rothman Park where the observation deck will be constructed.
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