East Rutherford officials, in partnership with Bergen County and state leadership, announced the next steps in the development of the Carlton Hill Greenway and the planned Lois Lane Athletic Complex.
The Carlton Hill Greenway will transform a long-abandoned rail corridor connecting East Rutherford and Rutherford into a new, 1.2-mile linear park — expanding open space and linking southern Bergen County neighborhoods to the Passaic River.
The county has awarded a professional services contract to Boswell Engineering to conduct design work on the Greenway, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.
Adjacent to the future Greenway, the Lois Lane Athletic Complex will create additional recreational opportunities for residents and complement the county’s planned park.
The project has received $5.5 million in state budget appropriations from the State of New Jersey through the efforts of Senator Paul Sarlo and Assemblymembers Gary Schaer and Clinton Calabrese, who represent East Rutherford in the State Legislature.
To assist the project further, the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Committee has recommended an additional $450,000 in 2025 Open Space funding to help move the Lois Lane Athletic Fields project forward. The Bergen County board of commissioners is expected to vote on the full 2025 allotment of Open Space funds next month.
Together, both projects will enhance access to outdoor space, bolster recreation and advance the goals established in the 2019 Bergen County Parks Master Plan, which called for expanding park access, particularly in southern Bergen County, where open land is limited.
“This was a no-brainer for my colleagues in the Legislature,” said Senator Sarlo, who serves as chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “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.
“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.”
“I was proud to help secure state funding that supports making the Lois Lane Athletic Fields a reality,” said Assemblyman Calabrese. “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. The result shows what state, county and local leaders can achieve when we work together: healthier, more connected communities and an improved quality of life for residents.”
