BERGEN COUNTY, N.J.—You might say Northern Valley Greenway got a “green light” from Bergen County on Dec. 4 as Bergen County’s first-ever parks master plan boosted the greenway’s momentum by noting it “has great potential.”
A final version of Bergen County Parks’ Master Plan—which initially left off any significant mention of the proposed 7.4-mile-long greenway effort in its draft, now includes the still-being-developed greenway as a “visionary consideration” for a future rails-to-trails project.
Bergen County Freeholders introduced and approved unanimously on first reading an ordinance Dec. 4 to adopt the Parks’ Master Plan as an official document to guide future park priorities and activities.
The next public meeting is Dec. 18.
The master plan ordinance will be up for public hearing and a final vote on Dec. 18.
Although top county officials told Northern Valley Press the parks’ master plan was a mostly visionary document with long-range goals and objectives— which is why Northern Valley Greenway was initially left out— apparently parks officials now deem the project worthy enough to cite it as an example of a future greenway effort.
Supporters were urged to email comments to promote the greenway’s inclusion prior to public input closing on Nov. 21 and greenway leaders were vocal about its value to the region and Bergen County.
Andrew Mikesh, team leader for the greenway’s interlocal committee, called the greenway’s inclusion in the first-ever parks’ master plan “an encouraging sign” for continuing efforts to purchase an unused CSX rail line and convert the now-overgrown corridor into a pedestrian-friendly walkway, hiking and biking path, also called a linear park.
‘They are encouraging us’
“They are encouraging us to continue to develop the details, pursue our efforts and also helping us move forward with the project,” said Mikesh, who attended the Freeholders’ meeting.
Initially, greenway advocates were concerned that their efforts over the past three years to create a safe corridor through six Northern Valley towns were not mentioned in the future-oriented county parks planning document.
Greenway proponents expressed concern online, to Northern Valley Press, and urged supporters to request the county Parks and Recreation Department to include the greenway in its future plans.
‘We are in’
“We are in the Master Plan, even if it’s just a brief mention, they are encouraging us by putting us back into their plan,” Mikesh told Northern Valley Press Dec. 5.
Under “Visionary Consideration: Linear Rails to Trails,” the master plan notes rails-to-trails conversions “capitalize on the principle of connectivity…the County could work together with its municipalities and non-profits to negotiate acquisition of these properties from the railroads,” the plan says.
“One such example is the Northern Valley Greenway, a grassroots effort led by the Rotary Club of Tenafly, to establish a multi-use pathway on a little-used freight railroad line in the northeastern part of Bergen County. A recently commissioned study by NJDOT determined that such a project could be feasible,” the plan states.
‘A great potential’
“While not a county-led project the Northern Valley Greenway has great potential to achieve one of the primary goals of the Master Plan by connecting Overpeck County Park to the Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail in Rockland County, N.Y. in addition to all the various green spaces along the way,” concludes the plan.
Following September’s technical planning report release deeming the project “feasible” and laying out local, technical, funding and ownership challenges ahead, greenway officials and supporters have been advocating in public and behind the scenes to answer questions and seek out new supporters and partners for a multi-year greenway effort.
Both James Tedesco III, county executive, and James Koth, Parks and Recreation Division director, previously said they support the concept of Northern Valley Greenway when questioned by Northern Valley Press.
Advocates have been working to secure additional funding and develop plans for future greenway ownership, in addition to continuing contact with CSX officials to facilitate negotiations.
