NEWARK, N.J. — Governor Phil Murphy joined local, county, and state officials Tuesday to break ground on the first phase of the Essex-Hudson Greenway, a nine-mile-long, 100-foot-wide former rail corridor that will be transformed into New Jersey’s newest state park.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future Newark Central Activity Center between Summer Avenue and Broadway. The Greenway will stretch from Montclair to Jersey City, connecting eight municipalities—Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair, Kearny, Secaucus, and Jersey City—through a linear park designed for walking, biking, and alternative transportation.
“Spanning two of the most densely populated counties in the country, the Greenway will be a new landmark that reflects who we are and where we’re going,” said Governor Murphy during the event.
The project repurposes a long-abandoned rail line historically used for transporting iron ore and ice to ports in Jersey City and New York City. Once completed, the corridor is expected to serve as a regional green space, alternative transit route, and recreational asset for hundreds of thousands of residents.
The Greenway is a joint initiative supported by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and NJ TRANSIT.
“This groundbreaking ceremony in historic Newark marks a milestone,” said NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “We are forging a legacy that will connect communities, celebrate history, and conserve open space.”
“This project exemplifies the state’s commitment to the revitalization of communities and sustainable economic development,” added NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan.
NJ TRANSIT is also exploring ways to integrate the Secaucus-Meadowlands Transitway into the park corridor to expand connectivity.
Senate President Nick Scutari, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin all voiced support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to promote equity, public health, and sustainable infrastructure across Essex and Hudson counties.
“This reimagined public space will serve people first and build a more connected, sustainable future that links us all,” said Ruiz.
County and municipal leaders including Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. echoed the project’s importance in enhancing quality of life through expanded access to green space and recreational resources.
The Greenway project’s first phase begins with the Newark section and is funded in part by New Jersey’s FY2025 budget.
A former freight corridor is being transformed into a nine-mile urban park connecting Montclair to Jersey City in one of the state’s largest open space projects in decades.