Wild Duck Pond Ecological Restoration
PROJECT STATUS
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Wild Duck Pond is a man-made lake
constructed sometime before 1927 based on
historic maps. Early County Park
Commission reports indicate that the first
Bergen County Park opened in 1952 and
included the Wild Duck Pond. The 1952
Bergen County Park Commission Annual
Report indicates the “Ridgewood Duck
Pond” was flooded for winter ice skating.
Over the years, the Wild Duck Pond at
Saddle River County Park has been a
beloved Bergen County landmark. However,
in recent summers, the water levels of the
pond have been unstable. The Parks
Department responded to these concerns
by engaging an engineering firm that
specializes in ecological restoration to assist
Project Information
Budget: | $1.7 million |
Location: | Saddle River County Park 1133 E Ridgewood Ave Ridgewood, NJ 07451 |
with renovating the Duck Pond. The goal of the restoration is multifaceted: to improve pond
water retention, remove invasive species, and repair the pond’s ecology to create conditions for
a sustainable, healthy habitat for native plants and animals.
Consistent with the 2019 County Parks Masterplan, this ecological restoration will showcase
several environmental controls, such as stormwater best management practices. A new pond
liner and at-grade pump system will provide stability in the water surface elevations. New
wetland and aquatic habitat will be implanted within the existing drainage channel and within
the pond to support native wildlife. All of these steps will have the overall effect of restoring
wetlands and establishing conditions for a diversity of native flora and fauna.
PROJECT TIMELINE
December 2017 | Proposal solicited from ecological restoration firm |
April 21, 2021 | Board of Commissioners awards construction contract to Earthworks, Inc. (Reso #269-21) |
July 12, 2021 | Construction begins |
August 20, 2021 | Groundbreaking ceremony |
October 12, 2022 | Ribbon cutting ceremony |
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES
Several organizations have written letters of support for the project, including the Village of Ridgewood, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, Fyke Nature Association, and the Bergen County Audubon Society.
RENDERINGS AND GRAPHICS
PROGRESS PHOTOS
PROFESSIONALS
Architect of Record: Biohabitats, Inc.
Civil Engineer: WSP USA
Construction Manager: Siteworks, Inc
General Contractor: Earthworks, Inc.
Contact Us
Bergen County Department of Parks
One Bergen County Plaza • 4th Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076
Phone: 201-336-7275