Places in Essex County: West Essex Trail

One could easily say that the West Essex Trail, which connects the townships of Verona and Cedar Grove in Essex County with Little Falls in Passaic County, is hidden in plain sight. Although it has been open to walkers and bikers for over 20 years, there is little signage on or near the three mile long trail. 

The West Essex Trail is the only rail-trail in Essex and Passaic Counties, and is a county park on the Essex side. The trail was once the Caldwell Branch of the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, which ran between Essex Fells and Jersey City. Mile markers to Jersey City still dot the trail. 

The West Essex Trail begins on Fairview Avenue in the Township of Verona, and ends at the Montclair-Boonton Line train tracks in Little Falls. The trail passes by the abandoned Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove, in addition to crossing over Route 23 and the Peckman River.

Access points:

-Fairview Avenue in Verona between Sampson Drive and Durrell Street

-Durrell Street in Verona between Fairview and Grove Avenues

-Valley View Road in Verona (Dead End Street)

-Keeney Street in Cedar Grove off of Grove Avenue

-Route 23/Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove between Grove and Myrtle Avenues (Stairwell connects trail to street level)

-Slattery Drive in Cedar Grove (Walkway connects trail to pool parking lot)

-Bowdon Road in Cedar Grove between Lakewood Avenue and Highview Terrace

-Francisco Avenue/Route 612 in Little Falls between Tivoli Court and Houston Road

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Places in Essex County: Greenwood Gardens

Despite its location just outside Downtown Millburn, Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills remains a secret to many Essex County residents. The 28-acre property, which opened to the public last year, borders Old Short Hills Park and the South Mountain Reservation. 

Originally, Greenwood Gardens was the home of New York real estate broker and millionaire Joseph Day, who called the estate 'Pleasant Days'. Day later sold the property to lawyer Peter P. Blanchard, Jr. Years later, Blanchard's son formed a non-profit organization to turn the property into the public garden that it is today.

Visitors to Greenwood Gardens can view the pasture, which is home to a variety of farm birds and goats. There are also various meadows and ponds, in addition to a large formal garden and a tea house. Plus, a sculpture exhibition will be on display at the gardens until November 2. Called "Art in Nature", the exhibition was formed by Greenwood Gardens and Studio Montclair. According to the Greenwood Gardens website, "over 30 pieces (are) on display throughout the garden and...feature the work of internationally and regionally recognized sculptors, William Tucker, Jon Isherwood, and Mia Westerlund Roosen". A free tour of the exhibition will be led by curator Karen Wilkin on Monday, September 29.

General tickets for Greenwood Gardens cost $10, and must be purchased in advance. The gardens are open in Spring, Summer, and Fall on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and select Saturdays. 

Greenwood Gardens

274 Old Short Hills Road

Short Hills

GreenwoodGardens.org

(973) 258-4026

 

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