Montclair Event: Discover The Lenape Trail On This Nature Walk

From the MEC: The Montclair Environmental Commission (MEC) invites any interested citizens to join them on a 1.7 mile walk along part of the Lenape Trail on Wednesday, August 9th from 6:30 – 8 PM. The walk will be led by Deb Ellis, a master gardener and former MEC member. Walkers should meet at the first parking lot on the left when entering Brookdale Park from Bellvue Avenue. The parking lot is by the bleachers above the track at Brookdale Park - meet at the north end of the parking lot.

The Lenape Trail is a 32-mile urban trail in Essex County. By following the yellow blazes one will discover how the Lenape Trail connects 4 Montclair parks: Brookdale, Yantacaw, Tuers, and Bonsal Preserve. Ms. Ellis will share information about native and non-native trees and plants, the Lenape settlers in Brookdale Park, the Dutch origins of Upper Montclair (Speertown), the original site of the Upper Montclair Golf Club and more. Walkers will see where farms (with houses still standing) were located along Alexander Avenue that fed New York City residents in the late 19th century. The walk will end at an 1845 dairy farm aka as Applegate, where ice cream awaits!

RSVP to the MEC website (info@mtcenv.org) with your name and the number in your party. The walk will be begin promptly at 6:30 PM, so as not to lose the light. It is recommended to arrive 10 minutes early. If inclement weather forces a cancellation, those who signed up will be contacted by email and a notification will be posted on the MEC website.

Photo: Flickr Commons