South Orange and Maplewood are working to create a Greenway along the Rahway River. A greenway is a corridor connecting parks and other open spaces, providing a place for car-free walking, biking, and scootering, while also protecting waterways and natural habitat. Click the links below to jump to the status of each segment as of 2026.

Maplewood: Baker St to Jefferson Ave

• STATUS: TBD with plans under consideration

• As of 2026, Maplewood Engineering committee is still considering plans for bike lanes on Dunnell Rd between Baker St and Jefferson Ave. These plans were first drafted by Dynamic Traffic in 2024.

• Connects to Maplewood Middle School, Maplewood Library, Memorial Park, and Maplewood Train Station.

• Paths in Memorial Park are too narrow and are not being considered.

Maplewood: Jefferson Ave to Parker Ave

• STATUS: COMPLETED

• In August 2024, the existing path between Jefferson Ave and the Columbia HS student parking lot was repaved and improved using funds from the Gleason developer.  

• Maplewood restriped the CHS parking lot to add a path for walking and biking on the west side of the parking lot.

• Connects to the bike lane on Parker Ave (from Maplewood Ave to Irvington Ave).

• Connects to Columbia High School and the South Mountain YMCA Child Care facility.

• Village Green: Maplewood River Greenway Opens a New Path—Just in Time for School

South Orange: Parker Ave to W 3rd St (aka Waterlands Phase aka Phase 2)

• STATUS: Under construction 2026-2027

• Construction started in August 2026 and is expected to be completed in early 2027.

• Connects to the bike lane on Parker Ave (from Maplewood Ave to Irvington Ave).

• Chyzowych Driveway to be repaved and striped at the end of Phase 2 construction.

• New paved multi-use path along Chyzowych Field.

• Connects to the DPW & Library Annex Driveway, which provides connection to Walton Ave and points west.

• New bridge over the Rahway River will be built, after which the old falling-apart bridge will be removed.

• Existing paved paths at Waterlands Field will be repaved.

• Sharrows (shared bicycle use markings) on the Waterlands Park Driveway to W 3rd St. 

• Connects to sharrows on 3rd St and Church St to access South Orange Ave.

• Funded by $4 million grant + from federal, state and county funds, originally awarded 10 years ago!

• Village Green, 2026: South Orange Village Announces Start of Construction on Phase 2 of the River Greenway Project 

• Village Green, 2015: South Orange announces $1 million grant for River Greenway Project

South Orange: W 3rd St to South Orange Ave - via NJT Lot

• STATUS: TBD with land access under negotiation

• South Orange is negotiating a redevelopment of the NJ Transit lot. Part of the agreement would include creation of the Greenway directly along the river through the NJT lot.

• Would run past the South Orange Commons (new JESPY development) from W 3rd along the river past the Village Station East parking lot and through the NJ Transit lot to South Orange Ave. 

• Connects to SOPAC, South Orange Train Station and South Orange Downtown.

• Village Green: Mayor Collum Says NJ Transit Lot Development Project May Be Back on Track

South Orange: W 3rd St to South Orange Ave - via Church St

• STATUS: Under construction fall 2026

• In fall 2026, they are repaving and adding sharrows (shared route bicycle markings) to W 3rd St and Church St.

• During 2025, South Orange held public meetings to consider adding a formal bike lane to Church St, but decided on sharrows instead.

• This will be the interim Greenway connection between Waterlands Park and Meadowland Park for several years until a more direct route can be constructed through the NJT lot.

South Orange: South Orange Ave to Meadowbrook Place (aka Meadowland Park aka Phase 1)

• STATUS: COMPLETED, with further improvements in 2026/2027

• This was the first phase of the Greenway, completed in two parts between 2008 and 2014, using $4 million in federal, state, and county grants.

• Path near the Pool to be repaved after the Cameron Recreation Area construction is complete in 2026.

• This construction was based on the River Greenway Master Plan, prepared by Rhodeside and Harwell and issued by the Village of South Orange in 2007.

•  Runs through the east side of Meadowland Park from South Orange Ave, past the Pool, crosses Mead St, past the Baird, crosses a bridge over the river, and follows a dirt path up Meadowbrook Lane to Meadowbrook Pl.

• Connects to South Orange Downtown, South Orange Middle School, South Orange Pool, Baird Community Center.

• Connects to the bike lane on Mead St from Meadowbrook Ln to Vose Ave.

South Orange: Meadowbrook Pl to W Montrose Ave and/or Orange

• STATUS: TBD with no plans under consideration yet

• Although there are no recent discussion of plans, this phase is in the original River Greenway Masterplan.

• This phase will provide pavement striping and signage, to create a walk and bike connection to near the border with Orange.

• Connects to the bike lane on West Montrose Ave (from Ridgewood to Scotland).

• Connects to Mountain Train Station.

• Potential connection to Metcalf Park in Orange.