Long-Awaited 'Greenway' Is Shaping Up In North Jersey: See Latest Update

Foundations have been excavated, rebar is being set and concrete is being poured. That’s the latest progress report on the long-awaited Essex-Hudson Greenway.

Work officially began on the ambitious project last year. The plan? Transform an old, defunct nine-mile railroad line in North Jersey into a 100-foot-wide biking and hiking path.

When it’s complete, New Jersey’s newest state park will cross above the Passaic and Hackensack rivers and pass through eight towns in some of the most densely populated parts of the state: Bloomfield, Belleville, Glen Ridge, Jersey City, Kearny, Montclair, Newark and Secaucus.

The greenway will eventually connect to nearly 1.5 million people – more than 16 percent of New Jersey’s population. It will be funded through a combination of state and federal appropriations.

>> READ MORE: NJ Is Transforming An Abandoned Railway Into A Massive Hiking And Biking Path

On Thursday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) shared an update about construction on the first phase of the greenway in Newark.

Here’s what the NJDEP had to say:

“Construction is underway on community gathering spaces at the nearly one-mile Newark segment of New Jersey’s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway stretching through Essex and Hudson counties. Foundations have been excavated, rebar is being set, and concrete has begun to be poured for features at the Newark Central Activity Center and the Branch Brook Park Overlook. At the Newark Central Activity Center, work has been focused on constructing the performance stage located off Verona Avenue. At the Branch Brook Park Overlook, crews are laying the foundation for an observation platform overlooking Branch Brook Park and the Second River.”

The park is planned to open to visitors in 2027, state officials said.

According to a November update from the NJDEP, other recent work has included removing vegetation, excavating test pits for soil sampling, and collecting baseline air monitoring data.

Crews are preparing to install perimeter fencing throughout the site, along with soil and erosion control measures to ensure the work does not affect nearby residents and businesses, state officials said.

In January, the NJDEP unveiled a vision and action plan for the greenway, which can be viewed online here.

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BUILDING A GREENWAY

Work on the greenway will take place in sections: Central, West and East:

• Greenway Central will be located in Newark
• Greenway West will cross through Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield and Belleville
• Greenway East will cross through Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City

According to the governor’s office, the nearly one-mile Newark segment of the greenway is the largest single investment in state history for the acquisition and development of a new state park, with this phase of construction totaling $69.2 million.

All areas are currently closed to public access. Learn more about the project and its timeline here. See a list of frequently asked questions here.

New Jersey turned heads three years ago when officials announced that it will be creating its first new state park in more than a decade. Read More: NJ Will Turn Old Railway Into Huge 'Greenway' For Hiking, Biking

The NJDEP acquired the property from Norfolk Southern Corporation in 2022 after years of pleas from local advocates. The rail line last served commuters in 2002, when NJ Transit discontinued operations due to the opening of an alternate line with direct service to New York and high repair costs associated with two bridges on the line.

Freight service on the line east of Newark ended in the 1990s, and no freight traffic has operated between Newark and Montclair since 2009.

• See Related: Poetry Amid Decay: NJ Photographer Explores Abandoned Railway

The NJDEP is spearheading the project, engaging with stakeholders and managing the completed greenway through the State Park Service. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is overseeing construction of the overall project, including the Newark segment. AECOM Tishman was selected as construction manager through a competitive bidding process.

• See Related: ‘New Jersey's High Line’: Supporters Have Big Hopes For New State Park

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