Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
The Hackensack River Greenway is a connected network of parks, walking trails, and natural habitats spanning multiple communities along the Hackensack River in Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. This greenway aims to provide public access to riverfront areas while protecting important wetland ecosystems and supporting wildlife corridors within an urbanized region. The greenway traverses diverse landscapes including tidal marshlands, floodplain forests, and riparian buffers, which provide critical habitat for waterfowl, fish, and migratory bird species. Historically, the Hackensack River served as an industrial and transportation artery, but significant restoration initiatives in recent decades have focused on improving water quality and expanding public recreation access. Key recreation opportunities include walking, cycling, birdwatching, and kayaking in designated river access points. Several developed parks, such as the Laurel Hill County Park and Mill Creek Marsh Nature Preserve, anchor segments of the greenway and provide scenic overlooks, picnic areas, and interpretive signage about local ecology and history. Visitors are drawn to the greenway for urban outdoor activities with a view into the river’s natural and cultural heritage. Ongoing expansion and connectivity efforts seek to forge a near-continuous pathway from the river’s headwaters downstream toward Newark Bay, fostering greater community engagement with the region’s natural resources.
