Work Continues On Essex-Hudson Greenway In North Jersey: See Latest Updates

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Progress continues to be made on a highly anticipated “greenway” that will connect eight towns in North Jersey, state officials say.

On Thursday, New Jersey state park officials offered a brief status update about the Essex-Hudson Greenway.

The plan? Transform an old railroad line into a massive biking and hiking pathway.

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

Work officially began on the greenway in 2025 after years of advocacy from local community members.

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Construction is already underway on Phase 1 of the greenway, which runs from Branch Brook Park to Broadway in Newark.

Expected to open to visitors in 2027, the segment features three community gathering spaces connected by a meandering, ADA-accessible trail. Two paths will run the length of the park, one for walking and a wider path for running and biking.

There are plans to plant more than 170,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials along the one-mile stretch of pathway.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, paths are being constructed with pervious materials that allow rainwater to soak into the ground, helping reduce ponding and runoff – part of a larger stormwater management system that also includes rain gardens and underground infrastructure.

• Related: New 'Greenway' In North Jersey Will Prevent Flooding: Here's How [VIDEO]

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Other attractions include an ADA-accessible “adventure playground” with slides, swings, climbing features and a water play area. The play area also includes a nod to local history, state park officials pointed out:

“Its design is inspired by a historic icehouse and ice block conveyor belt that once operated on Lake Hopatcong. Ice harvested from the lake was stored at the icehouse before being loaded onto trains that traveled on the former rail line where the future park is being built and transported the ice to ports along the Hudson River.”

The playground is located within the future Newark Central Activity Center, a community gathering space that will also include family-friendly restrooms, a performance stage with a lawn area, exercise stations, and a multi-sport court for basketball, street hockey and futsal.

All areas of the future state park are currently closed to public access, except for guided events. Learn more about the project and its timeline here. See a list of frequently asked questions here.

>> MORE: ‘New Jersey's High Line’: Supporters Have Big Hopes For New State Park

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