The State We're In

Jun 18, 2026

By Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Imagine a new linear park lined with native trees, shrubs, and flowers that starts in Newark and stretches nine miles through densely populated communities, transforming a contaminated industrial site into a clean, vibrant, living landscape. That’s exactly the vision and plan behind New Jersey’s newest state park! This park will join a number of notable “rail trails” in this State We’re In – that reincarnate former rail corridors as multi-use trails and parks.

Repurposing abandoned rail lines for green spaces typically takes a good deal of money, work and time. In this case, the land was acquired for the park about 20 years after the last train ran on these tracks. The effort began with Open Space Institute and local organizations building support for the idea and convincing the owners, Norfolk Southern, to consider a sale to the State. When it’s finished, there will be a new greenway spanning eight municipalities in Essex and Hudson counties.

Judging by how it is shaping up, this one was worth the wait!

The first phase – a roughly one-mile stretch in Newark – is being developed now, and it’s packed with features designed for people with a wide range of interests and abilities. This inaugural segment is expected to open to visitors in 2027. The State has its sights set high for how the park will really shine once finished. As New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Ed Potosnak put it, the goal is to create “a natural environment in an urban setting…like no other.”

The project involves restoration on a massive scale, and includes the planting of 170,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses, and various perennials, from red maple and black tupelo to flowering dogwoods. There will be three community gathering spaces, an ADA-accessible trail, a multi-sport court, playground, performance stage, and picnic areas. It’s the kind of place where families can spend a whole afternoon, where neighbors can gather, and where green space, clean air and clean water is the priority.

Transforming an old rail line into a safe, thriving public space requires careful work, including managing and remediating contaminated soil.

The park includes stormwater infrastructure designed to reduce flooding and keep polluted runoff out of local waterways. That’s especially important in places like Newark, where the combined sewer system dumps sewage and stormwater into waterways after heavy rains.

This greenway will help improve air quality and cool down neighborhoods where heat builds up quickly. It’s a powerful example of how green space can support both environmental health and human well-being.

The scale of impact is remarkable. There are “1.5 million residents in the surrounding area who will be benefiting,” Potosnak says. That’s “16 percent of New Jersey’s population.” And that doesn’t consider the broader visitation one can expect.

Just as important as what’s being developed is how it’s being done. From the beginning, the project has centered on community input. State officials have worked closely with locals – listening, adjusting, and designing the space together.

“We’ve been meeting with businesses, homeowners, community groups and churches…asking what they want to see in their park,” Potosnak says. That collaboration has helped turn an abandoned area once used for dumping and storage into something Newark can be proud of.

That sense of larger community ownership is behind the State’s invitation to all who are interested to help name the park because, as Potosnak put it, “it’s their park.” There are four names to choose from, and votes may be cast until 4 p.m. Monday, June 29 on the DEP’s website: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/urban-state-parks-initiatives/greenway/vote/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

In a state where open space is limited, this park is a breath of fresh air and a great example of what’s possible when we think creatively, work together, and invest boldly. New Jersey has been a leader in establishing parks and open spaces, and more urban green spaces are a critical part of the State’s sustainable future. Given our industrial past, old rail corridors are one of the most promising places to look for future opportunities for connecting and enhancing communities through green investments.

To learn more about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation at www.njconservation.org or contact info@njconservation.org.