The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) and the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance (HEJA) have announced a groundbreaking initiative, “Pathways to the River,” aimed at transforming riverfront accessibility and reconnecting the Hackensack community with its natural spaces.
The project, spearheaded by the NNJCF and HEJA—a group founded in 2023 with over 200 residents—will produce a comprehensive plan to create a network of accessible pathways, encouraging greater use of the Hackensack River’s walkways. This effort brings together community leaders, environmental experts, and local stakeholders to cultivate a more connected urban environment.
With critical support from the M&T Charitable Foundation, PSEG Foundation, and Valley Bank, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has been enlisted to develop the plan. Drawing from over a century of experience, the Trail Conference will address long-standing environmental and accessibility challenges in the community.
Overcoming historical barriers
“Pathways to the River” is designed to overcome historical barriers that have prevented residents from experiencing the riverfront. The plan includes creating interconnected walkways, implementing public art, and developing innovative signage to revitalize underutilized urban spaces.
“This effort is important because Hackensack residents have been physically and emotionally disconnected from the Hackensack River,” Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, executive director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, said. “The riverfront was mostly industrial and polluted, giving people little reason to visit. Existing walkways lack signage and visibility.”
Vazquez noted that River Street poses a significant barrier, with developments blocking river views and making street crossings unpleasant and unsafe. The project aims to be a significant milestone in Hackensack’s environmental and community development, promising to create vibrant, accessible resources along the riverfront.
Community engagement is key
Central to the project’s success is a robust community engagement strategy. Two public input sessions will provide residents with opportunities to share their vision and contribute to the development of the riverfront pathways.
The first session takes place on Oct. 29, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rinconcito Musical, located at 342 Main Street in Hackensack. A second session will take place on Nov. 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the location to be announced.
Comprehensive environmental approach
Beyond creating walkways, the initiative is part of the broader Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice and Flood Mitigation initiative. This program addresses critical environmental challenges such as stormwater flooding and climate change risks that disproportionately impact Latinx, Black, and other communities of color. The effort complements the city’s existing sewer separation work and aims to build a coalition of community advocates for long-term environmental protection strategies.
Donations to support the “Pathways to the River” project are welcome and can be made online at the NNJCF website.
