Bergen County Gets $5.5M From State For Carlton Hill Greenway, Lois Lane Athletic Complex

State funds totaling $5.5 million will transform East Rutherford's landscape. The money backs two major projects: the Carlton Hill Greenway and the Lois Lane Athletic Complex. An old train track will become a mile-long park, while new sports fields will spring up nearby.

The town picked Boswell Engineering to sketch out the Greenway's design. Work won't start until 2027. Once built, the path will link South Bergen towns to the Passaic River waterfront.

More cash might flow in soon. The Bergen County Open Space group aims to add $450,000 for the sports fields in 2025. Next month's vote by county officials will settle this extra funding.

"This was a no-brainer for my colleagues in the Legislature," said Senator Paul Sarlo, chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, according to a release from Bergen County. "In a strong bipartisan way, we came together to deliver real funding for this project — $5,500,000 in state budget appropriations — that will transform a former industrial site into a recreational space that families will enjoy for generations to come."

These plans match the goals set in Bergen County's 2019 Parks Master Plan. That blueprint stressed the need for green spaces in the county's packed southern section, where parks are scarce.

Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese pushed hard for the state money. "This initiative creates valuable recreational space in one of Bergen County's most densely populated areas and fulfills the vision behind the Carlton Hill Greenway," said Calabrese.

"This is what happens when every level of government — state, county and local — works together with one shared goal: to invest in our communities and improve quality of life," Sarlo added.

The fresh trail will stretch between two towns. Sports fields will sit right by the path, making a hub for both walkers and athletes.