While the rest of America was preoccupied with Watergate and the fall of Richard Nixon’s presidency in the summer of 1974, a momentous event was quietly unfolding in Montclair.

This past July, activists celebrated the preservation of a 21-acre patch of semi-wildland along a section of the Third River in Montclair, previously dedicated as the Alonzo F. Bonsal Preserve. (Bonsal’s widow, Jennie, donated $40,000 to buy the property.)

Now, a little over 50 years later, conservationists and nature reserve officials are ready to celebrate.

The Sept. 8 celebration at the Preserve is meant to be part victory lap, part fundraiser, the latter intended to continue the small but persistent efforts of the compact preservation group to continue restoring the park, which spans the creek and borders of Clifton and Montclair.

“We hope to showcase the conservation efforts of those who are members,” said Jonathan Grupper, Friends of Alonzo F. Bonsal Preserve.

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For the past 50 years, the preserve has worked to transform the 30-acre site (the remaining 9 acres are owned by the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission) into both a haven for local wildlife and a haven for the local residents.

“It’s a well-kept secret that we want to show off,” Gruppo said.

In his 20 years with the reserve, Gruppo has seen wildlife come and go. Muskrats have disappeared, but red foxes, owls, deer, the occasional bear and even the occasional white-tailed eagle have returned.

Challenges remain, including ongoing efforts to remove invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and mugwort. Money raised is used to remove these non-native species and plant trees and other plants in their place.

The event is also intended to thank public officials from Clifton and Montclair who recently completed the final phase of renovations in a $5 million project to save the preserve from complete razing.

The big win for Friends began six years ago when Clifton decided it needed to replace its aging sewer system running through Bonsal.

At Montclair’s urging, Clifton undertook an “extremely ambitious engineering undertaking” to move its sewer mains along the Bonsal border, running underground but gradually sloping to allow gravity-driven water flow, Friends members said.

Clifton also donated nearly 300 native trees and shrubs as new canopy for the reserve. Clifton’s good work has provided an opportunity to reclaim sections of the reserve that were either usurped or wasted, Gruppo said.

He added that this has revived the enthusiasm of the local community in the reserve, which is now enjoying increasing activity.

“We are on a good streak and we want to keep it going,” Gruppo said.

Participants should gather at the Daniels Drive entrance to the Preserve by approximately 4:00 p.m. In case of rain, the rain date is September 15.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Montclair NJ Bonsal Preserve: Celebrating 50 Years