The Hoboken Girl Team 
New Jersey residents can now help name the state’s newest park: a planned nine-mile greenway that will transform a former rail corridor into public green space from Montclair to Jersey City. The Essex-Hudson Greenway aims to transform a former rail corridor into a nine-mile state park connecting communities from Montclair to Jersey City. Now, New Jersey residents are being asked to vote for their preferred name for the park. Read on for more about how to get involved with the naming of New Jersey’s newest state park.
About the Greenway
The NJDEP purchased this land from Norfolk Southern Corporation on August 19, 2022, after years of grassroots efforts to transform the abandoned rail line into community space.
Once completed, walkers, joggers and cyclists will be able to travel from Montclair to Jersey City while passing through Secaucus, Kearny, Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield and Glen Ridge. The project will transform a former rail corridor that averages about 100 feet in width into a state park featuring trails, recreation areas and transportation connections.
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This park is projected to serve over 1.5 million residents, representing more than 16% of New Jersey’s population. Around 135 acres of new green space will be added with this new path connecting to several existing trails.
Newark will be the first to enjoy this $270 million project, with the first phase targeting Newark’s one-mile segment.
Naming the Park
Governor Sherrill’s administration has opened voting for residents to help choose the name of what will become New Jersey’s newest state park. Residents can cast their vote on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection website, which will be open until 4PM on Monday, June 29.th The name options are inspired by local culture, geography, and history that will help shape the park’s identity.
The four naming options are:
- Prosperity State Park
- Ridge & River State Park
- Ironline State Park
- Steel Trail State Park
According to the administration, Prosperity State Park references New Jersey’s state motto, Ridge & River State Park reflects the region’s geography, while Ironline and Steel Trail State Park highlight the corridor’s industrial and railroad history.
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The public vote is the most recent opportunity for residents to help shape the future of the park following years of community input and public engagement. In March 2025, the NJDEP hosted a community cleanup and visioning session where participants walked along the park’s Glen Ridge segment and shared ideas with staff leading the project.
“We want New Jerseyans to help further shape its identity by choosing a name that reflects its history and the future it represents,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement. “A world-class linear park that will provide much-needed tree-lined, peaceful green spaces while driving economic activity in one of the most densely populated regions of the nation.”
What’s Next?
Following the project’s first groundbreaking in July 2025, the NJDEP has worked on preparing the site and installing critical infrastructure, including grading the land and installing stormwater drainage systems. Greening the park has already started with more than 170,000 native trees, flowers, and shrubs planted.
Governor Sherrill’s administration plans to open the Newark segment sometime next year. Included with the one-mile cycling path will be a new Newark Central Activity Center located between Summer Avenue and Broadway. According to the NJDEP, it will be the largest gathering space in Newark, featuring a performance stage, an ADA-accessible adventure playground, exercise stations, a community garden, and multi-sport courts.
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This outdoor space will offer a healthy outlet and build stronger community ties in some of the most densely populated counties in the state. In addition to the direct benefits as seen in Newark’s plan, the new development is predicted to bring in new business and aid the economic development of the area as well.
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