Van Buskirk Island County Park — Attraction in Oradell

There's a verse that was purged from the original recording of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land"; it goes: "As I was walking, I saw a sign there/And that sign said, "No trespassing"/But on the other side it didn't say nothin'/That side was made for you and me."

If, like Woody Guthrie, you decide that Van Buskirk Island Park was made for you and me, there's a heck of a lot to see here. In the 1915 addition to the pumping engine house sits a 5-story-tall Allis-Chalmers vertical triple expansion pumping engine. Down in the locker room, workers' belongings are still hanging out it lockers, long since forgotten. In the communal shower room, tattered shower curtains still hang on. When the lower stories are flooded, one can see little goldfish swimming about the pipes and derelict pumping machinery. Next door, in the filtration building and administrative tower, old paperwork gives clues to the operation of the historic New Milford Plant of the Hackensack Water Works. If you're interested in the industrial heritage of America, this park was made for you and me.

On your drive home from here, make sure to stop by the Weehawken Water Tower which supplied water during droughts! An architectural marvel, it is a great complement to Hackensack's main filtration and pumping operation,...

I will start by saying I think it's great that there is a new spot open to the public to enjoy nature! However, upon arriving, I realized how far the official launch is from the lot. This launch isn't feabile to use unless you are renting a kayak there. I launched from the water, surrounded by pretty rude fishers who didn't move at all and were casting right over my kayak 😂 as I continued on, anytime I stopped there were at least 2 groups trying to get around me so stopping and relaxing wasn't an option. All of the offshoots turn into dams or aren't accessible so you can easily see everything in well under an hour. When I got my kayak out of the water, it was the filthiest it's ever been. Please don't be like me and do your research before going! I would suggest going on a weekday if you want a quiet paddle, and be prepared to launch from the water. If you are looking for an easy paddle for the...

Just started learning how to fish recently. This is the perfect place to start off until you go to the larger lakes, get a permit, etc. Some days there are fish closer to the surface, other days they are at the bottom. There are really only 4 species (Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, and Bluegill.) My concern is that while you are walking down, you start seeing poison ivy and thorns. I recommend staying away from any sort of plants. Other than that, I love this place and come...