Hackensack Riverwalk (Hackensack River Greenway) | Hackensack

Hackensack RiverWalk – A Detailed Exploration

1. Overview and Identity

The Hackensack RiverWalk, also referred to as the Hackensack River Greenway, is a long-term linear park project in New Jersey designed to reconnect communities with the Hackensack River through accessible, sustainable, and scenic pathways. This urban green corridor stretches for approximately 18 miles along the eastern shore of the Hackensack River and parts of the Newark Bay, weaving through a dense patchwork of industrial zones, residential districts, wetlands, parks, and cultural landmarks.

This walkway is part of a broader regional initiative that aims to link it with the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and other greenway systems in northern New Jersey, creating a continuous pedestrian and cycling route through the urban landscape.

2. Route and Geographical Scope

The RiverWalk spans through several municipalities in Hudson and Bergen counties, including:

Bayonne: The southern anchor of the RiverWalk, including Rutkowski Park and the Bayonne Golf Club, features raised walkways and views of Newark Bay.

Jersey City: Includes portions around Lincoln Park West and the Hackensack River’s tidal basin. Plans exist to enhance riverfront access through Liberty State Park connections.

Secaucus: A major green hub in the pathway, featuring the Mill Creek Marsh, Laurel Hill Park, and the Secaucus Greenway Trail.

Little Ferry, Ridgefield Park, and Hackensack (City): Northern sections incorporate older levee roads, bridges, and some floodplain restoration zones.

Though much of the route is still fragmented, completed sections showcase wide boardwalks, paved trails, raised decks through wetlands, benches, interpretive signage, and natural buffers for flood protection.

3. Environmental & Ecological Features

The RiverWalk passes through various ecosystems:

Tidal salt marshes and brackish estuaries of the lower Hackensack River.

Urban forest pockets, freshwater wetlands, and mudflats rich in birdlife.

Restored riparian zones-formerly industrial wastelands-now planted with native species for stormwater filtration and habitat renewal.

These features make the RiverWalk an important ecological corridor within a heavily developed metropolitan area. Environmental cleanups along the route have enabled the reintroduction of birds like egrets, herons, and ospreys, as well as plant species like saltmeadow cordgrass and purple loosestrife.

4. Infrastructure and Design Elements

Walkways & Surfaces: The trail surfaces vary between wooden boardwalks, concrete pavers, and elevated steel mesh paths. In wetland areas, floating walkways or raised trestles prevent environmental damage.

Viewing Platforms: Installed in several segments to encourage birdwatching and passive recreation.

Bridges & Underpasses: The path weaves beneath rail lines, highways, and through industrial buffer zones, maintaining safe and continuous flow for pedestrians and cyclists.

Interpretive Elements: Along the trail, kiosks describe the area's industrial history, indigenous culture, and ecosystem changes over time.

5. Public Spaces and Parks

The RiverWalk intersects or borders several key parks and recreational facilities:

Laurel Hill Park (Secaucus) – A riverside park with sports fields, boat launches, and panoramic views of the Meadowlands.

Rutkowski Park (Bayonne) – Features an elevated wooden promenade through salt marshes with educational signage.

Lincoln Park West (Jersey City) – Includes a nature preserve and walking trails along tidal channels.

Mill Creek Marsh (Secaucus) – A protected area with trails and an abundance of birdlife and preserved cedar stumps from the original swamp forests.

6. Cultural and Civic Importance

The RiverWalk serves more than recreational purposes:

Restorative Justice through Land Use: Many segments lie on reclaimed brownfields or former landfills, turning degraded land into public resources.

Heritage Connections: The walkway highlights stories from the Lenape tribes, early European settlers, and industrial workers who shaped the river's evolution.

Community Activation: Events such as river cleanups, ecology walks, outdoor yoga, art installations, and kayak launches have strengthened public engagement with the river.

7. Challenges and Development Goals

Although the vision is comprehensive, the RiverWalk remains only partially completed, with key gaps due to:

Privately-owned industrial parcels blocking access.

Environmental remediation still pending in contaminated zones.

Funding limitations and inter-agency coordination hurdles.

Future development goals include:

Achieving full continuity from Bayonne to Hackensack.

Creating ADA-compliant access points and signage.

Adding lighting and wayfinding for safety and navigation.

Strengthening links to NJ Transit stations and urban trail systems.

8. Accessibility and Use

Access Points: Available at most major intersections near the river, especially in municipal parks and near public transit nodes.

Multi-use Trail: Open to pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, and in some places, wheelchair users. No motorized vehicles allowed.

Hours and Regulation: Generally open dawn to dusk; governed by local park rules depending on jurisdiction.

Safety Features: Includes occasional park ranger patrols, emergency call boxes, and security lighting in high-use zones.

9. Future Potential

The Hackensack RiverWalk represents a major opportunity for environmental resilience, cultural reconnection, and recreational access in an area long dominated by industrial infrastructure. If fully realized, it would:

Offer a seamless 18+ mile green artery across northern New Jersey.

Connect with other key trails like the East Coast Greenway.

Provide equitable outdoor access to tens of thousands of residents, many of whom live in historically underserved communities.

Contribute to flood mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and regional carbon reduction through sustainable land use.

Conclusion

The Hackensack RiverWalk is both a visionary urban greenway and a functional environmental recovery project. Though currently fragmented, it already offers valuable recreational and ecological experiences. With continued investment and public engagement, it has the potential to become one of the most significant riverfront pathways in the New York–New Jersey metropolitan area.