Officials from Bergen County and the Open Space Institute (OSI) announced Nov. 2 the acquisition of a former rail corridor linking Rutherford and East Rutherford that will be rehabilitated into a new greenway and public park.

The Carlton Hill Greenway property, a stretch of land long eyed for conservation that was previously owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway, is a 1.2-mile-long property that was acquired for $1.9 million. OSI negotiated the transaction while the Bergen County Department of Parks and Recreation now takes over ownership of the property.

Once structural and accessibility improvements are completed on the trail, New Jersey’s Green Acres program will reimburse Bergen County for half of the purchase price.

The acquisition of the land is the first step in building an 11-acre public park in the densely populated area. The property will eventually be converted to a linear park connecting the two communities with the Passaic River and the athletic fields, tennis courts, playgrounds and community garden of Rutherford’s Memorial Park.

“This is once in a generation opportunity to reclaim open space in one of the most densely populated suburbs in the nation and transform a long-abandoned rail-line into a vibrant 1.2-mile linear park that will engage, inspire, and empower our Southern Bergen County communities,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “Today is a momentous day for Bergen County’s vast park system.”

The acquisition comes on the heels of September’s announcement that the state acquired a 9-mile stretch of former rail property, which will be transformed into the long-anticipated Essex-Hudson Greenway. That deal was similarly negotiated and assisted by OSI.

“Everyone deserves access to beautiful, accessible outdoor space,” said Kim Elliman, OSI president and CEO. “The pandemic reminds us how important open spaces are to our physical and mental health, especially for residents of densely populated communities. The Open Space Institute is proud to work with our partners at Norfolk Southern Railway, Green Acres, the leadership of Bergen County, and leaders in Rutherford and East Rutherford to bring this wonderful greenway a big step closer to reality.”

The project also complements a previously acquired tract of land by East Rutherford with the intention of developing that space for recreational use.

“The governing body here in East Rutherford, as well as our residents are ecstatic over the county’s purchase of the abandoned railbed,” said East Rutherford Mayor Jeffrey Lahullier. “This is just another example of valuable county tax dollars being returned to our municipality.”

“The Borough of Rutherford appreciates the county’s ability to see an underutilized area and know what a positive impact revitalizing it can have on our communities,” said Rutherford Mayor Frank Nunziato. “We look forward to working together to develop a much-needed open space that will be used for generations to come.”