On September 15th, 2022 Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state of New Jersey had officially acquired a former rail line + would be converting it into a massive greenway, which will stretch from Essex County to Hudson County. This almost nine-mile linear state park, which starts in Montclair and runs to Jersey City, will serve as a recreational path for bikers and walkers — as well as provide necessary green space to a variety of communities. The hope is that this design will also help mitigate flooding in many areas. This new trail will follow along the right-of-way of the eastern portion of NJ Transit’s former Boonton Line, which discontinued commuter service back in 2002 and, after freight services stopped in 2015, has since been inactive. The state spent $65 million to acquire this 135-acre property — which is the single largest conservation project ever, per an announcement from the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project. In November 2024, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced that it was aiming to break ground on the Newark section of the project in 2025. An open house was held on November 13th, where design plans for the project were revealed. Now, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority will hire construction manager for the Greenway, and expects to have a manager ready for board approval in May 2025. Read on for what to know about the plans for the Essex-Hudson Greenway.

February 2025 Update

On Monday, February 24th, 2025, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding that calls for the authority to hire a construction manager for the Greenway, per the New Jersey Monitor. The NJEDA expects to have a construction manager ready for board approval by May, and also expects to establish a project budget by that time.

This post will be updated with any further details.

Read More: A Guide to Fun Outdoor Activities in New Jersey for Any Season

November 2024 Update

Per NJDEP's website, groundbreaking for the Newark section of the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project is expected to take place in 2025. NJDEP and NJ Transit hosted an open-house-style event on Wednesday, November 13th from 6PM-8PM at Park Elementary School — located at 120 Manchester Place in Newark — to inform locals about project updates, see artistic images of the Greenway, and share thoughts.

The design plans revealed at the open house include a map of the initial greenway development + construction that includes three community areas in the Newark section — which will span 0.8 miles from Branch Brook Park to Broadway.

The Branch Brook Park Overlook will feature views of Branch Brook Park with lawn and picnic space; The Tiffany Manor Hub will be a gathering space with seating and opportunities for food trucks and other short-term amenities; and The Newark Central Hub will include ADA-accessible play features, a performance space, sports courts, and restrooms. More details can be found on NJDEP's website.

All About the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project

Governor Phil Murphy and the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project announced on September 15th, 2022 that they had achieved a major milestone: the purchasing of a northern New Jersey inactive railway. This railway, which was NJ Transit’s former Boonton Line, is slated to be turned into a linear State Park that will stretch from Montclair to Jersey City on an almost nine-mile path. The state spent $65 million, which is the single largest conservation project to date — and is also the biggest investment in a non-motorized transportation corridor. 

This project has been a long time coming with a lot of advocates working behind the scenes. The Essex-Hudson Greenway Coalition — which is made up of the Open Space Institute, the New Jersey Bike + Walk Coalition, and the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance — celebrated the purchase back in 2022.

“This acquisition by Governor Murphy and the state of New Jersey brings us one step closer to creating much-needed green space to the most densely populated and diverse region in the entire nation,” Kim Elliman, president and CEO of the Open Space Institute, said in the original announcement.

This 135-acre property will start from Montclair and pass through Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus, and end in Jersey City. The path, which is up to 100 feet wide at certain spots, will allow residents space for recreational biking and walking. Plus, according to the original release, this trail will provide a host of different benefits to residents in these areas.

"The Greenway has the potential to support new and existing businesses, create enhanced access to a healthy, thriving green space for historically underserved communities, and offer the communities adjacent to the property with significant flood control and environmental solutions to resolve longstanding issues," the announcement said.

In 2021, the September 11th National Memorial Trail received unanimous federal legislation for a trail route, which created a triangle-shaped, 1,300-mile trail. The Essex-Hudson Greenway will make up a portion of this trail.

“Many people don’t realize that in addition to providing nearby residents with new green space, the Essex-Hudson Greenway also has national significance as a component of the 9/11 Memorial Trail,” Andy Hamilton, Chair of the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance Board of Directors, previously said. “It’s exciting to see that we are one step closer to realizing this full potential of this project and we remain committed to supporting the State of New Jersey and our coalition partners as the project moves forward.”

See More: Outdoor Exercise Paths in Essex County

Many locals have been campaigning for a linear park that would serve as a “shared-use path” for people walking, riding a bike, running, rollerblading, or just relaxing. Advocates including the Bloomfield Open Space Trust Fund, the Friends of the Ice + Iron Trail, and groups in North Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken have been pushing for this Greenway to come to fruition.

We can't wait to see what this project will look like once it's finished.

Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok to stay in the know with all of the local news, and sign up for our newsletter that shares all of our top stories to your inbox here.