Posted in New Jersey State Parks February 03, 2023 by Raymond Goldfield

This Abandoned New Jersey Rail Line May Be Home To The Next State Park

New Jersey is one of the busiest states in the nation for trains, but not all of the state’s rail lines are being put to good use. Many are abandoned – including a segment of the Norfolk Southern Railway, a freight line that is still operating in the area. Well, it might be put back to work transporting people soon – but in a very different way. In one of the biggest public infrastructure projects in New Jersey in a long time, the railway is in the process of being transformed into the Essex-Hudson Greenway, a nine-mile corridor that will combine bike and hiking trails with green spaces. Not only will it be a safe and beautiful spot for outdoor recreation, but it will allow easy travel between some of New Jersey’s busiest areas without a car. While an opening date isn’t firm yet, development is happening now – and fans of the outdoors can’t wait to see this new park in New Jersey open!

The Norfolk Southern Railway is still key to carrying goods through the northeast, but its trains don't run everywhere anymore.

A major New Jersey section of the line has been taken out of service, and is being reclaimed by nature - but not for long.

The state has officially purchased this land, with the plan being to transform it into the Essex-Hudson Greenway - a massive nine-mile long state park spanning from Montclair to Jersey City, geared towards biking and hiking.

New Jersey is a dense state, with some large areas being heavily impassable unless you're driving or taking public transportation - including some of its busiest areas near NYC.

The goal of the Greenway is to place a safe, straightforward path between major locations that anyone can use without having to worry about traffic.

Bike lanes and hiking lanes will be joined by beautiful gardens and other features - including possibly play areas for kids

It will also likely connect to the much larger East Coast Greenway, which will span all the way from Maine to Florida when the nonprofit project is completed.

The Greenway may also solve the challenge of connecting to the Meadowlands, which features a massive mall and stadium and is only accessible by car and bus at the moment.

Are you excited about the Essex-Hudson Greenway? Tell us what you’re looking forward to seeing at this new park in New Jersey in the comments section. You can find out more about the plans on the official website. For another major new development coming to New Jersey, check out this indoor waterpark.

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