We visited Overpeck County Park in Bergen County, New Jersey, on two Saturdays, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. Land that was once a landfill has been transformed into the county's flagship park of more than 805 acres. A path follows the lake formed by Overpeck Creek, and the park has a 40-acre lawn, artificial turf fields, playgrounds and a kayak launch. It is a few minutes by car from Korean American communities such as Palisades Park and Fort Lee.
Cross the George Washington Bridge and head down Fort Lee Road toward Leonia, and the view suddenly opens up. A broad lake stretches out beyond a stand of reeds, and a lamp-lined path winds around its edge. This is Overpeck County Park in Bergen County, New Jersey.
A reporter visited twice, on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 7. The first day was cloudless and clear; a week later, billowing clouds covered the sky. Even in the same park, the color of the lake and the look of the reeds differed markedly with the weather. With the foliage just past its peak in late fall, red maples, yellow-leaved hardwoods and silvery faded reeds were all mixed together.
A Park Meant to Rival Central Park
Overpeck County Park surrounds Overpeck Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River. According to Bergen County, the park covers more than 805 acres, comparable in size to Manhattan's Central Park (843 acres). The park spans several towns, including Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck.
The park's origins go back to the 1950s. In 1954, A. Thornton Bishop, then chairman of the Bergen County Park Commission, proposed building a county park comparable to New York's Central Park. Five towns, Englewood, Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck, then donated hundreds of acres around Overpeck Creek to the county. Some of that land was being used as a landfill at the time.
The plan did not go smoothly. The northern Henry Hoebel section was developed as a park first, but the rest of the land remained a landfill where trash and discarded tires piled up for years. As park development was delayed, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck even sued the county. Major redevelopment work began in 2003, and the expanded park opened in 2010. Much of the grassy hills and lakeside paths that visitors walk today is land newly built on top of that landfill.
A Path Along the Lake
Water is, above all, the heart of the park. In this stretch, Overpeck Creek spreads out like a wide lake. According to Hackensack Riverkeeper, the water is calm and not affected by tides, making it well suited to beginners and families in kayaks. The area is also known for herons, egrets and three species of turtles. On the day the reporter visited, dozens of gulls were flying low over the water in search of food.
According to the county, about 5 miles of paths shared by pedestrians and cyclists run through the park. The paved path winds between the lakeshore and grassy hills, with black lampposts, benches and trash cans placed at regular intervals. With almost no slope, it is easy to push a stroller or ride a bike.
Numbered signs stand at various points along the lakeshore, serving as markers to help walkers gauge where they are. From a wooden deck overlook jutting out over the water, you can take in the woods across the lake and buildings in the distance. The Ridgefield Park section has a boat launch for canoes and kayaks as well as an overlook.
A 40-Acre Lawn and Red Maples
Leave the lakeside path and climb the hill, and you reach a lawn with no end in sight. The county calls it the "40-acre open field." Maple trees stand scattered along the edges of the vast lawn, which looks like dozens of soccer fields put together. One maple, turned a vivid red, stood out against the blue sky and green grass.
The area also has a grass amphitheater that seats 3,000 people. According to the Bergen County events calendar, this year's Fourth of July event, the "Star-Spangled Spectacular," and a fall harvest festival in September were both held at Overpeck. The county says this area has three restroom buildings and two concession stands. A small building surrounded by red shrubs can also be seen by the lake.
Artificial Turf Fields, Playground and EV Chargers
On the second visit, on Nov. 7, we looked around the sports facilities. The Ridgefield Park section has two artificial turf multipurpose fields, one baseball field and one softball field, as well as three tennis courts and three pickleball courts. That afternoon, people were playing soccer on the turf field. Use of the fields requires a county permit.
Next to the fields is a children's playground. Play structures topped with gazebo-style roofs stand in a row and are visible from a distance. Electric vehicle chargers are also installed at one side of the parking lot. A large American flag flies at the roundabout at the park entrance.
The lake on a cloudy day looked different again from a clear day. Billowing clouds filling the sky were reflected on the water, and each time the wind blew, the tall reeds all bent in one direction. Residents walking their dogs were also a common sight. The northern Henry Hoebel section also has a dog park where dogs can run off leash.
Kayaking and rowing in spring and summer
The water gets busier in the warmer months. The environmental group Hackensack Riverkeeper runs a paddling center in the park, renting canoes, one- and two-person kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs). This year's rate was $30 per person for two hours, plus $10 for each additional hour. Renters must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older, and children under 5 are not allowed on the water. Riverkeeper was open daily through Labor Day this year, then on weekends only through Oct. 11. The season has now ended, and the schedule for next season is available on Riverkeeper's website and Facebook page.
The lake is also used as a rowing course. Several crews, including those from Teaneck High School and Columbia University, train here. Visitors who bring their own kayaks can use the launch in the Ridgefield Park section. The county allows only small boats that can be carried on a car roof.
A different character in each section
Overpeck County Park is a single park, but each section has its own character. The Ridgefield Park section (Area III), which our reporter walked, has lawns, a lakeside path, playing fields and playgrounds, making it a good fit for first-time visitors. The entrance address is 40 Fort Lee Rd. in Leonia.
The Henry Hoebel section in Leonia, to the north, has a 1.25-mile figure-eight path alongside the lake, a running track, a dog park, four lighted Andrew Kim Memorial Tennis Courts, and a World Trade Center memorial honoring Bergen County residents killed in the 9/11 attacks. On the Roosevelt Street side in Palisades Park is the Overpeck Sportsplex, which has a synthetic-turf football stadium and baseball fields.
The 46-acre Teaneck Creek section in Teaneck is an ecological park with trails winding through woods and wetlands. Since 2020, the county has carried out a wetland restoration project that removes invasive plants and plants tens of thousands of native ones, completing the first phase in 2022. The park is managed by the nonprofit Teaneck Creek Conservancy, which has also created a meditation labyrinth and a butterfly garden. On Fort Lee Road in Leonia, there is also an equestrian facility, the Bergen Equestrian Center.
Getting there and tips for visitors
The park is about a 10-minute drive from towns with large Korean American populations, including Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Leonia and Englewood Cliffs. From Manhattan, cross the George Washington Bridge. If it's your first visit, enter 40 Fort Lee Rd, Leonia in your navigation app; after entering the park, bear right at the rotary to reach the parking lot for the Ridgefield Park section. There is no admission fee.
The sun sets early on November afternoons. It is windy by the lake and feels colder than the actual temperature, so a windbreaker is a good idea. Allow about 1½ to 2 hours to walk the full loop and take in the lawns as well. To use the playing fields and picnic facilities, you must get a permit through the Bergen County Department of Parks website.