{"id":12299,"date":"2026-01-16T18:26:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T23:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/?p=12299"},"modified":"2026-01-16T18:31:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T23:31:03","slug":"26_0005","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/26_0005\/","title":{"rendered":"DEP Unveils Vision & Action Plan for New Jersey\u2019s Newest State Park, a Nine-Mile Greenway in Essex and Hudson Counties (26\/P005)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong>
\nJanuary 16, 2026[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong> Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795
\nLawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
\nVincent Grassi (609) 984-1795<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]DEP UNVEILS VISION & ACTION PLAN FOR NEW JERSEY\u2019S NEWEST STATE PARK, A NINE-MILE GREENWAY IN ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

(26\/P05) TRENTON <\/strong>\u2013 Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today\u00a0unveiled\u00a0the Vision & Action Plan for New Jersey\u2019s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway in Essex and Hudson\u00a0counties.<\/p>\n

The plan looks beyond the\u00a0nearly one-mile\u00a0Newark segment\u00a0of the\u00a0project\u00a0which broke ground in July,\u00a0and\u00a0establishes\u00a0the foundational framework that will guide planning,\u00a0design\u00a0and investment for the remaining eight miles of the future park.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cThe\u00a0Vision & Action Plan\u00a0specifies a strategic approach for transforming an abandoned rail corridor into something truly special \u2013 a world-class urban park for communities in need of\u00a0open, green spaces,\u201d\u00a0Commissioner LaTourette said<\/strong>. \u201cThe identified\u00a0priorities\u00a0are a blueprint for the future, to ensure that the dream we have for this land and former rail line will become a recreation destination for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The future park traverses\u00a0several overburdened communities that have historically lacked access to open space and face disproportionate environmental and public health challenges. Development of the park\u00a0represents\u00a0a significant step toward addressing these disparities and expanding\u00a0access\u00a0to nature and recreation.<\/p>\n

\"photo\"\u201cThis linear park is more than just a path; it is a generational opportunity to weave nature back into our urban fabric,\u201d\u00a0said John Cecil, DEP\u2019s Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe Vision & Action Plan establishes a framework for a vibrant corridor that will enhance local communities and elevate the quality of life for millions of residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Vision & Action Plan is the first step in guiding\u00a0continued\u00a0engagement\u00a0to ensure the future park meets the needs of surrounding communities,\u201d\u00a0said Maggie McCann, DEP\u2019s Administrator for Urban State Parks & Initiatives.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cIt will be a critical tool, providing a framework for thoughtful, long-term park growth that remains responsive to community needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vision & Action Plan\u00a0emphasizes inclusive design and accessibility, including ADA-compliant features and welcoming public spaces that foster a sense of belonging for users of all ages\u00a0and\u00a0abilities.\u00a0The plan\u00a0may\u00a0be viewed on the\u00a0DEP\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Continued community engagement will be essential to realizing the full potential of the Vision & Action Plan for the greenway, ensuring the park serves\u00a0each of the communities it will\u00a0touch – Jersey City, Secaucus, Kearny, Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen\u00a0Ridge\u00a0and Montclair.<\/p>\n

The next steps for the project include development\u00a0of a comprehensive master plan, identification of funding strategies, and establishment of long-term operations and maintenance plans.<\/p>\n

The Vision & Action Plan\u00a0was developed by Agency Landscape + Planning and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Public input was at the center of the process, with engagement events hosted in every municipality along the future park\u2019s route, ranging from information tables at farmers markets and block parties to formal open houses and listening sessions at libraries,\u00a0schools\u00a0and parks.<\/p>\n

Ongoing Construction in Newark\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In July,\u00a0Governor Murphy, alongside\u00a0state and local\u00a0officials,\u00a0broke ground<\/a>\u00a0on the\u00a0nearly one-mile\u00a0Newark segment of the project,\u00a0which includes three community gathering spaces connected by a meandering ADA-accessible trail.<\/p>\n

Construction activities to date\u00a0on the one-mile segment\u00a0include rough grading, installation of erosion control measures, stormwater management\u00a0improvements\u00a0and vegetation removal. Rough grading is a critical early step that\u00a0establishes\u00a0the foundation for all future construction.<\/p>\n

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is overseeing construction of the Newark segment.<\/p>\n

A video highlighting construction progress in Newark, featuring Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Commissioner LaTourette, may be\u00a0viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Project Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

The DEP\u00a0acquired\u00a0the nine-mile property from Norfolk Southern Corporation in 2022, following years of advocacy to transform the abandoned rail line into a recreational and transportation corridor.<\/p>\n

The rail line last served commuters in 2002, when NJ TRANSIT\u00a0discontinued\u00a0operations 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.<\/p>\n

Freight service on the line east of Newark ended in the 1990s, and no freight traffic has\u00a0operated\u00a0between Newark and Montclair since 2009. The NJEDA is evaluating economic opportunities that may arise from the creation of the new state park.<\/p>\n

More information about the project may be found at\u00a0dep.nj.gov\/greenway\/.<\/a><\/p>\n

DEP PHOTOS\/Renderings of amenities along the future greenway<\/strong><\/p>\n

###<\/strong><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2026[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””] Contact: Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795 Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795 Vincent Grassi (609) 984-1795 [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]DEP UNVEILS VISION & ACTION PLAN FOR NEW JERSEY\u2019S NEWEST STATE PARK, A NINE-MILE GREENWAY IN ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES (26\/P05) TRENTON \u2013 Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today\u00a0unveiled\u00a0the Vision & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":12288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"dep-single.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[206],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-206"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12299"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12330,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12299\/revisions\/12330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}