East Coast Greenway team joins New Jersey officials to break ground on landmark Greenway project

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy joined local, county and state officials, including East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano and New Jersey & New York Manager Sofia Barandiaran in Newark on Tuesday to break ground on the first phase of the Greenway project — a nine-mile, 100-foot-wide former rail line spanning Essex and Hudson Counties which will be transformed into New Jersey’s newest state park and a game-changing segment of the East Coast Greenway. The groundbreaking took place at the future Newark Central Activity Center, located between Summer Avenue and Broadway.

The Murphy Administration is developing the Greenway to provide outdoor recreation and alternative transportation opportunities in the state’s most densely populated region. Its design elements will reflect the corridor’s historic use, when the former rail line played a vital role in transporting iron ore and blocks of ice from northern New Jersey to the major ports of Jersey City and New York City. 

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

Once complete, the Greenway will connect eight communities across Essex and Hudson counties – Jersey City, Secaucus, Kearny, Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Montclair. The project aims to create a linear, multi-use corridor that supports walking, biking and active transportation while fostering community connections and enhancing regional environmental quality.

“The Greenway will be transformative, not only for New Jersey but for the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile walking and biking route connecting cities from Maine to Florida,” said Barandiaran. “We applaud Governor Murphy and NJDEP, as well as the community members and nonprofit partners who have championed this project from the start. Their work and dedication have brought us to this moment.”

“The part of the Greenway that overlaps with the East Coast Greenway will be one of the most impactful new segments on our 3,000 mile route: a completely off-road connection between the Garden State's two largest cities, Newark and Jersey City. The Greenway will be an invaluable resource for getting outdoors, moving safely and connecting with neighbors — not just for the people of Essex and Hudson counties, but for all of New Jersey and the entire East Coast Greenway corridor.”

Currently, the nearly 100 miles of East Coast Greenway in New Jersey passes through bustling urban areas — Trenton, New Brunswick, Newark and Jersey City — as well as quiet suburban settings and more rural landscape. The route includes 36 miles of the much enjoyed D&R Canal Towpath.

"Today’s greenway groundbreaking marks the moment we go from having a vision to building a game-changer for active transportation and recreation in New Jersey," said Debra Kagan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition and a long-time East Coast Greewnay Alliance supporter. "This is a step into a better future with more safe spaces for walking and biking that will boost our local economies, help us all to live healthier lives and build connections between our diverse communities.”

Expected to open by the end of 2026, the Newark phase of the project will allow walkers, joggers and cyclists to travel from Branch Brook Park Drive to Broadway on a meandering ADA-accessible trail lined with native plantings. 

In a whole-of-government approach, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is spearheading the project, engaging with stakeholders and managing the completed Greenway through the State Park Service.

NJ TRANSIT is collaborating with the Greenway design team to potentially extend the Secaucus-Meadowlands Transitway into the future state park, adding a dedicated lane for public transit.

Public input and involvement have played key roles in the development of the Greenway to ensure the reclaimed urban green space reflects the needs of host communities and surrounding areas. Outreach began in 2023 and has included events in every municipality along the Greenway’s route, from informal gatherings at farmers markets and block parties to formal open houses and listening sessions at libraries, schools, and parks.

The DEP acquired the Greenway property from Norfolk Southern Corporation in 2022, following years of advocacy to transform the abandoned rail line into a recreational and transportation corridor. Photos courtesy Rich Hundley/New Jersey Governor’s Office