Pascrell, Murphy Announce Exciting New Greenway State Park Cutting through Hudson County

Statement

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Governor Phil Murphy announced today that the State of New Jersey will use American Rescue Plan funds to purchase nearly nine miles of property stretching from Jersey City to Montclair for the creation of New Jersey's first new state park since 2006. Rep. Pascrell helped pass the historic American Rescue Plan in March of this year, which provided billions for New Jersey to combat the pandemic and rebuild its economy through investments like this. Today's announcement follows years of advocacy for the acquisition and transformation of the now-abandoned former Boonton rail alignment as a multi-modal transit and recreational trail corridor that crosses above both the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers.

Connecting the communities of Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus, and Jersey City, the park will also provide a new pedestrian route and protect our environment by providing residents with a new and convenient method to reach their destinations without the use of a car. Projects such as the new park, which encourage car-free transportation, will help the Murphy Administration reach its goals of reducing overall emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.

"The pandemic has proven the value of open space," said Rep. Pascrell. "Thanks to money passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden, the Greenway can be a stunning park for our North Jersey communities in one of the most densely populated areas in America. I am excited American Rescue Plan funds are being used to improve, expand, and contribute to public spaces. Governor Murphy's commitment to open spaces will be life-changing for our state. I look forward to continued investments in our communities."

"This project has been years in the making, and I am proud to be the Governor to advance this dream to being a reality," said Governor Murphy. "This new park will be a crown jewel of our state park system, providing much-needed recreational space to New Jerseyans and out-of-state visitors, while revitalizing and protecting environmentally-sensitive areas. Residents of our state's two largest cities, and the suburbs beyond and in-between will benefit from access to a multi-use trail, and the natural beauty of the Meadowlands. I am grateful for our partners across government including in the Legislature, Essex and Hudson counties, and our federal delegation for their efforts in support of this project."

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