Fields of Sun and Grass
An Artist's Journal of the New Jersey Meadowlands
The setting is the New Jersey Meadowlands, a wild and reedy tract located a mere six miles west of New York's Times Square. It is considered by many as nothing more than a "toxic wasteland," but is in fact home to a dazzling array of often overlooked plants and animals. While there is little doubt that many of the life forms that once thrived here are long gone, many others remain, and these are the primary focus of this book. Many, many species are discussed; far too many to list here. Suffice it to say Quinn leaves no stones unturned.
The book has three central parts, respectively called "Yesterday," "Today," and "Tomorrow." Each covers a different time period in the ecological life of the Meadowlands. There also is an "Introduction," a "Starting Point," an "Epilogue," a bibliography, an index, and an interesting sort of "hands-on" chapter called "Exploring the Meadowlands." This will be of particular interest to anyone who lives within traveling distance of the region. It gives helpful and experienced advice on enjoyed the Meadowlands firsthand through boating, fishing, hiking, and the visiting of local parks.
John Quinn has written an insightful book about the Meadowlands. He effectively blends his experiences and perspectives about the changing Meadowlands and those of other residents (past and present) with facts on the history, wildlife, and the uncertain future of this urban wildland to produce an interesting and timely work. I highly recommend this book to people living in the Newark-New York metropolitan area and to others interested in wetlands and environmental conservation.
John Quinn's recollections and dramatic drawings create a portrait in text and line of a surprising urban wetland. A valuable addition to volumes of New Jersey.
Introduction
Home Ground
Starting Point
Home Ground Revisited
Yesterday -
Lenapehoking
The Golden Door
Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutrals
Of Mosquitoes and Men
Railroads
A "Monstrous Visual Symbol"
A Gathering of Grackles
Suburban Hawkeyes
The Meadowsmen
Today -
The View from the Turnpike
The Oradell Dam and a Changing River
Flight
Tomorrow -
Grand Plan for the Meadowlands
The HEART of the Meadowlands
Taking Care of Business
The Seventeen-Acre Dot in the Swamplands
Flowers from Garbage
Teach Your Children Well
Message on an Observation-Blind Wall
Postscript
Epilogue
EXPLORING THE MEADOWLANDS
By Boat
Fishing
On Foot
Parks and Other Facilities
Education
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX