The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) and the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance (HEJA) announce a second public meeting will be held to discuss the Pathways to the River initiative. This project seeks to transform access to Hackensack’s riverfront. Furthermore, with this project, NNJCF continues its commitment to enhance community quality of life using strategic environmental endeavors.
Pathways to the River’s Second Meeting
The public is invited to share their ideas and contribute to the project’s development of the riverfront pathways at the next Pathways to the River community meeting on Saturday, November 22, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, at the Hackensack Civic Center, 215 State Street in Hackensack, New Jersey. Spanish translation will also be available. Participants may register for the meeting online.
The NNJCF and HEJA are launching this transformative project to produce a plan that creates a network of pathways encouraging more people to use the various walkways on the Hackensack riverfront. Central to the project’s success is a robust community engagement approach. The project brings together community leaders, environmental experts, and local stakeholders to create a more connected, accessible urban environment along the Hackensack River.
The NNJCF and HEJA work with trailing building experts, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, to create the project’s plan. The PSEG Foundation, M&T Charitable Foundation, and Valley Bank provide support for the project.
Ideas Presented at First Pathways to the River Meeting
Community members viewed a map of the Hackensack River at the first Pathways to the River meeting held on October 29
Participants offered several ideas at the first Pathways to the River’s meeting on October 29. Th NNJCF and HEJA intend to incorporate the ideas into a new plan to build better pathways to the river. “The Hackensack River is a great place to be on a nice day. But the walk to it – at least in Hackensack – can be dull, and for some people, also uncomfortable. Imagine it being safe, fun and educational – better crosswalks at River Street, colorful art on the street, and also beautiful native plants to replace the invasive weeds that can cover up the view of the river,” said Leonardo Vazquez, Executive Director, NNJCF.
Comprehensive Environmental Approach
Beyond creating walkways, the project is part of the broader Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice and Flood Mitigation initiative. This program addresses multiple environmental challenges. These challenges include stormwater flooding and also climate change risks. Latinx, Black, as well as other communities of color appear disproportionately impacted. The initiative complements the city’s existing sewer separation work, while aiming to create a coalition of community advocates. With the advocates, NNJC seeks to drive long-term environmental protection strategies.
Support Pathways to the River
The NNJCF welcomes donations of any size to support the project. Contributions may also be sent by check made out to ‘The Northern N.J. Community Foundation’, with ‘Pathways to the River’ entered in the memo line. Send checks to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Suite 102, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601.
For further information about the Pathways to the River, the sessions, or the NNJCF, contact Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP at leo@nnjcf.org or 201-568-5608, x2.
