An Essex Hudson greenway is in our future… A linear park for recreation, transportation, and healthy communities Scroll Down

Creating a Linear Park for the People of Northern Jersey and Beyond

A once-in-a-generation opportunity exists to create nearly nine miles of linear park In Northern New Jersey. A new Greenway, spanning Essex and Hudson Counties, will improve access to nature and create new recreational and transportation opportunities.

Open Space Institute, with support from partners New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition and the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance, has reached a preliminary agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for property spanning Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus, and Jersey City.

An Essex-Hudson Greenway will offer residents of these communities easy access to nature for a range of activities including walking, biking, running, and birding. The Essex-Hudson Greenway project also sets the stage for enhanced local economic activity as well as transportation, health and wellness, and environmental improvements as both a local trail and as a segment of two increasingly popular larger routes, the September 11th National Memorial Trail and the East Coast Greenway.

With a preliminary agreement reached between Open Space Institute and Norfolk Southern, the Essex-Hudson Greenway project now advances to its next phase. While much work lies ahead in terms of community outreach, park design, engineering and environmental assessments, and financing, the concept of this linear park has never been closer to reality.

Repurposed as the Essex-Hudson Greenway, the shared-use path would:

  • Connect people and communities
  • Create a safe, off-road trail to ride a bike, walk, educate, or play
  • Ease traffic and offer active transportation options
  • Create alternate commute options like biking or walking
  • Provide close-to-home, easy access to the outdoors

Nearly 9-Mile

Mixed Use Bike/Walking/Hiking/Running Trail

100 Feet Wide

or more in width throughout the "rail to trail" route

135 Acres

of new greenspace

8 Municipalities

Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City

The Network

Jersey City
Secaucus
Kearny
Newark
Belleville
Bloomfield
Glen Ridge
Montclair

Project Partners

The Essex-Hudson Greenway Project - How We Got Here

Residents of communities all along the property have been campaigning for a linear park that would serve as a “shared-use path” for people walking, hiking, riding a bicycle, running, or just relaxing. Groups and individuals including the Bloomfield Open Space Trust Fund, the Friends of the Ice & Iron Trail, Essex County Freeholder Brendan Gill, and Northeast Track Solutions, as well as organizations in North Newark, Jersey City and Hoboken have advocated for and supported the greenway. In 2014, the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition adopted the greenway campaign, partnering with the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance. Today, the Open Space Institute has reached a preliminary purchase and sale agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for the property that will, eventually, lead to the greenway. Looking for more information? Review our Frequently Asked Questions.

The process to create the greenway begins now, and your voice is essential in creating a greenway which represents and serves the needs of your community.

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Major support for the Open Space Institute’s efforts to create the Essex-Hudson Greenway has been provided by the
Thomas L. Kempner Jr. Foundation

Additional generous support from
Helen & William Mazer Foundation
Partners for Health Foundation