Town unveils new jersey’s first covered bridge in more than 100 years — Saddle River Walsh Family Bridge

SADDLE RIVER, NJ – A slice of history returned to Bergen County this week as the Borough of Saddle River dedicated the Walsh Family Bridge, the first covered bridge built in New Jersey in over a century.

More than 150 residents, local officials, and guests gathered to celebrate the new landmark, which links Rindlaub Park to 10 acres of newly preserved wetlands.

Mayor Albert J. Kurpis called the project “a bridge between the borough’s past and its future,” symbolizing Saddle River’s commitment to conservation, community, and education.

Key Points

Saddle River dedicates the Walsh Family Bridge, New Jersey’s first new covered bridge in over 100 years
The bridge connects 18-acre Rindlaub Park to 10 acres of preserved wetlands
Project funded through a Bergen County Open Space grant and private donations from the Walsh family

A bridge rooted in history and community

The red-timbered bridge, modeled after traditional New England designs, expands Saddle River’s public park system and creates a new pedestrian connection for residents and visitors. Despite delays from the pandemic and material shortages, the project was completed through a partnership between the borough, the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, and the Walsh family.

Commissioner Mary Amoroso, speaking on behalf of County Executive Jim Tedesco, praised the borough’s “visionary use of Open Space funding to create something both beautiful and lasting.”

Education meets art and nature

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The bridge’s opening featured students from Wandell Elementary School, who were the first to cross it as “future stewards” of the borough. The site will serve as the cornerstone of a planned statuary and ecological park featuring sculptures by internationally known artist Carolyn Palmer, along with future works donated by the Walsh family and student art installations.

A growing sanctuary for art and wildlife

In partnership with the Bergen County Audubon Society, Saddle River plans to develop the surrounding wetlands into an Audubon-certified bird sanctuary, making the area a hub for both environmental preservation and cultural enrichment.

A legacy project for generations

Mayor Kurpis said the bridge represents “the borough’s enduring spirit of unity and care for its natural surroundings.” The Walsh Family Bridge stands not only as a functional crossing but as a community landmark celebrating heritage, art, and the environment — a new symbol of Saddle River’s identity for the next century.

For more information, visit the borough’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/share/p/19uFFp7aKT.

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