The massive hike/bike path will cross through Bloomfield, Belleville, Glen Ridge, Jersey City, Kearny, Montclair, Newark and Secaucus.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — There is some good news for fans of the long-awaited Essex-Hudson Greenway in North Jersey: work is officially underway.
On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy and other elected officials held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the first phase of the project, which will transform an old, defunct nine-mile railroad line into a 100-foot-wide biking and hiking path.
Dubbed the “Essex-Hudson Greenway,” the ambitious project 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.
When it’s complete, the greenway will have separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also include downward-facing lighting to avoid disturbing nearby residents or natural habitats – while also keeping pathways well-lit.
Work 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.
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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.
Meanwhile, NJ Transit is collaborating with the greenway design team to potentially extend the Secaucus-Meadowlands Transitway into the future state park, adding a dedicated lane for public transit.
The area is currently closed to public access. Learn more about the project and its timeline here.
“When it’s complete, the greenway will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best urban parks in the country and will create opportunities for economic growth in the surrounding communities,” Murphy said at Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, which took place between Summer Avenue and Broadway in Newark.
“It will belong to the people who live here, ride it, walk it, and raise their kids alongside it,” the governor added.
Watch video footage from Tuesday’s press conference below (article continues underneath):
NEWARK PHASE
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.
Expected to open by the end of 2026, the Newark phase of the project will allow walkers, joggers and cyclists to travel from Branch Brook Park Drive to Broadway on an ADA-accessible trail lined with native plantings.
There will be three community gathering areas spaced across this section of the greenway, officials noted:
NEWARK CENTRAL – “The Newark Central Activity Center, the largest of these spaces, is between Summer Avenue and Broadway. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the activity center will feature amenities for people of all ages and abilities. The space includes a performance stage with an expansive lawn area to accommodate audiences of varying sizes, as well as an ADA-accessible adventure playground complete with slides, swings, climbing features, and a water play area. Additional amenities include ADA-accessible restroom facilities, outdoor exercise stations, space for a community garden, a shaded picnic grove and multi-sport courts suitable for basketball, street hockey and other organized sports.”
TIFFANY MANOR – “Tiffany Manor Community Space will be located between Manchester Place and Greenwood Lake Street, directly across from the historic Tiffany Manor, which once served as Tiffany & Company’s silver plate jewelry factory that was converted into apartments in 1996. The spot will feature a central seating area and a designated space for short-term amenities such as food trucks. Visitors will have picturesque views of Tiffany Manor, grassy lawn areas and a dedicated picnic space. Stormwater management features, including rain gardens and native plantings, will support the surrounding ecosystem.
BRANCH BROOK PARK OVERLOOK – “The Branch Brook Park Overlook will be west of Tiffany Manor and feature an observation deck offering sweeping views of Branch Brook Park and the Second River. The space will enable visitors to connect to the neighboring 360-acre Branch Brook Park, which offers access to the 36-mile Lenape Trail. Visitors will also be just steps away from Belleville Park and the Hendricks Field Golf Course.”
BIRTH OF A STATE PARK
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 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (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.
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.