The basics:

• Newark segment of Greenway breaks ground with $69M investment
• Phase will create ADA-accessible trail from Branch Brook to Broadway
• Greenway will connect 8 towns across Essex and Hudson counties

Officials from all levels of government, along with key stakeholders, gathered in Newark July 15 for the groundbreaking of the first phase of the Greenway.

The project will transform a former rail line spanning Essex and Hudson counties into New Jersey’s newest state park.

Key things to know:

• Groundbreaking took place at the future Newark Culture Activity Center, located between Summer Avenue and Broadway
• Once complete, the 9-mile, 100-foot-wide stretch will connect eight communities. It will create a linear, multi-use corridor that supports walking, biking as well as active transportation across:
  • • Jersey City
    • Secaucus
    • Kearny
    • Newark
    • Belleville
    • Bloomfield
    • Glen Ridge
    • Montclair
• The nearly 1-mile Newark segment marks the single largest investment in state history for the acquisition and development of a new state park. This phase of construction totals $69.2 million
• Newark phase will run from Branch Brook Park Drive to Broadway. It will feature a meandering ADA-accessible trail for walkers, joggers and cyclists lined with native paintings
• Project is spearheaded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority serves as NJDEP‘s delivery partner, overseeing construction of the overall project – including the Newark segment
• Following a competitive bid process, AECOM Tishman was selected as construction manager
• NJ Transit is collaborating with the Greenway design team to potentially expand the Secaucus-Meadowlands Transitway into the future state park
• Newark phase expected to open by the end of 2026

“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 Gov. Phil Murphy. “When it’s complete, the Greenway will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best urban parks in the country and will create opportunities for economic growth in the surrounding communities.”

Marking a milestone

NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said this reflects another example by the administration of converting underutilized properties into transformative local assets.

“The NJEDA is proud to partner with the NJDEP on the construction of the Greenway project, which exemplifies the state’s commitment to the revitalization of communities and sustainable economic development,” said Sullivan.

NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said, “This groundbreaking ceremony in historic Newark marks a milestone, beginning the long-awaited transformation of an abandoned rail-line into a world-class urban park that will be a significant recreational and economic asset for New Jersey.”

“NJ Transit is pleased to collaborate on a project that envisions public transit as part of a greener, more connected future for our communities,” said NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri.

‘An ambitious concept’

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said there is not a single aspect of the Greenway that is not exactly what Newark needs.

“And we are grateful to everyone who has made this project possible,” said Baraka. “More than simply the start of another development project, this groundbreaking truly marks a transformative milestone in our region’s history and a collective revival in our communities.”

[T]his groundbreaking truly marks a transformative milestone in our region’s history and a collective revival in our communities.
– Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

“The Greenway is an ambitious concept – a 9-mile, 135-acre network of trails that connects communities across northern New Jersey,” said Evan Weiss, president and CEO of the Newark Alliance. “Today’s groundbreaking in Newark represents the reclamation of what was once an abandoned eyesore and the start of its transformation into a regional asset that will bring recreation, transportation access, and the benefits of green spaces to thousands of Newarkers and our neighbors.”

Murphy added, “It will belong to the people who live here, ride it, walk it, and raise their kids alongside it.”

More information on the Greenway project is available here.