Park Overview:

Overpeck County Park consists of several discrete areas along the western and eastern banks of Overpeck Creek, near the junction of I-80 and I-95 in Bergen County. 

 

Park Description:

Nearby DeKorte Park [Hackensack Meadowlands] was once a dump [or "landfill" as we prefer to say now] but currently is, by some credible accounts, a park with very attractive trails.  Overpeck County Park, by contrast, was conceived a half-century ago to rival New York's Central Park, but alas became a dumping ground.  As a result of lawsuits from neighboring towns -- which had donated sections of riverbank for the park -- and after a good deal of foot-dragging by County government, a vastly improved 154-acre segment of the park opened for the first time during the July 4th weekend of 2010.  Located at the end of Challenger Road in the Village of Ridgefield Park, it offers many recreational facilities, from soccer fields to boat launches.  Importantly for hikers, there are five miles of walking and bike trails together with an observation deck and nature overlooks. 

This newest section on the western side of Overpeck Creek joins several other areas on the eastern bank to comprise the park. A bridge for pedestrians and cars to connect the western area with the rest of the park in Leonia has been installed.  It is a double wooden cable-stayed structure.

All trails in the section are paved and are generally quickly cleared of snow and ice after winter storms. The numerous trees that have been planted will need some growing time to fill in, but the trail network with its long loops and gentle slopes makes for a pleasant place to hike.

A lagoon within the park is often used for sculling races; Bald Eagles may be seen on occasion just outside park boundaries. 

For a now-dated news account of the opening see: The Record, July 3, 2010. 

 

Trails Overview:

For links to an overview map and individual maps of the park's multiple, separated areas use Contact Information on this site.

Hikers will want to focus on the Ridgefield Park Area (Area III) and the Teaneck Creek Conservancy (Area I)

• The Ridgefield Park Area features a five-mile loop trail along the western bank of Overpeck Creek – a wide, long body of water more like a lake than a creek in this location. The smooth, paved pathway is open to hikers and bikers. Use the Web Map link on this site to view Area III, its loop trail and other amenities.
• The nearby Teaneck Creek Conservancy, a 46-acre tract that was once used as a dump for debris generated during the construction of the nearby interstate highways, has been rehabilitated and a 1.3-mile trail network constructed.
  •  Click for more information about the Conservancy as well as a trail map.  Here is a detailed hike description.

 

 

Park Acreage:

805.00 acres

Municipality:

Leonia, Ridgefield Park, Palisades Park, Teaneck, Englewood,