BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NORTHERN VALLEY AREA, N.J.—Residents of six towns traversed by a proposed 7.4-mile Northern Valley greenway are urged to make their voices heard March 5 at a public input meeting from 5 to 8 p.m. at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest.
The proposed greenway—planned for an unused CSX rail line—weaves through six towns including Tenafly, Cresskill, Demarest, Closter, Norwood and Northvale, where it may eventually connect to existing rail trails in New York State.
In case of inclement weather, the meeting will run March 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the same location.
A previous meeting scheduled for Jan. 29 was cancelled due to a predicted snowstorm.
The public meeting will be the only opportunity for public officials and residents to comment on the initial three preliminary designs and draft studies prepared by a planning consultant, NV5, contracted by the state Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of a future greenway.
A final report by NV5 on the feasibility of a proposed greenway is due in spring 2019.
The NJDOT planning effort kicked off in August 2018 when the state Department of Transportation agreed to work with the interlocal greenway efforts and contracted with NV5, a Parsippany planning and technical consultant, to undertake greenway planning studies.
“We are all looking forward to finally getting the public input,” said Northern Valley Greenway project team leader Andrew Mikesh Feb. 14.
Mikesh said all interested residents from the “core” towns and nearby communities are welcome to attend the greenway public input session.
Mikesh said the meeting would offer a look at preliminary designs and studies and include draft study findings, local challenges, infrastructure challenges, wetland studies “and whatever has been done so far by the NJDOT consultant [NV5].”
Mikesh said several greenway design alternatives will be available to view and greenway officials hope to solicit public questions and comment.
“This is the first draft study to show how this might be feasible and to gather input for future planning and studies,” he added.
In early February, Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes said he met with Mikesh to discuss a possible role for Englewood in planning and benefitting from a future greenway. The CSX rail line in Englewood is an active freight line.
Mikesh has said he welcomes working with and engaging with at least 17 communities who have expressed an interest in the greenway efforts. He recently said communities should continue discussions of ways they may both support and benefit from a future greenway.
The Tenafly Nature Center plans to honor the three area Rotary Clubs and Eagle Scout who initiated efforts to create a greenway several years ago at its annual dinner on April 7 at Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly. Visit the nature center website for details.
