Overpeck County Park

Overpeck County Park is an 811-acre county park in Bergen County, New Jersey, stretching from Leonia to Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, and Teaneck, surrounding Overpeck Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River.

Notably, the Overpeck Creek flows to the west of the Henry Hoebel Area and the South Area of the park.

History

The first inhabitants of the area were Ashkineshacky Indians around Leonia. Approximately a thousand Indians had their seasonal activities, including collecting shells for wampum and hosting their bath festivals in Overpeck Creek.

In 1954, the president of the Bergen County Park Commission, A. Thornton Bishop, proposed a plan to build a county park. This park was planned to rival Central Park in New York City, but it was not to be. Today, it is ground of Interstate 95, buildings, and Overpeck County Park.

In the 1950s, Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, and Teaneck donated municipal land for the development of the Overpeck County Park. The first area developed was the Henry Hoebel Area, while the other area remained undeveloped and were used as dumping sites until they posed environmental hazards to their surroundings, acting as a landfill for used cars and tires. The park vicinity was notable being filled with solid waste. Ridgefield Park and Teaneck filed a lawsuit against Bergen County because the park land was not developed and used properly. The ruling determined the County to develop their sections of the county park. The project began in 2003 and it is expected to be completed in September 2009.

In 2002, the Teaneck Creek Conservancy Inc. and the Bergen County Parks Department began to establish a 46-acre environmental and cultural park as part of Overpeck Park.

The four regions

There are four regions of the park:

Henry Hoebel Area

Area in Leonia alongside Fort Lee Road.

The Henry Hoebel Area consists of a small playground, a 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial, bicycle and jogging path, and track and field. There are four tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, and a practice backstop. Usage of the fields and track requires permit. The bicycle-pedestrian path is approximately a quarter-mile long and it forms a figure-8, dividing the Henry Hoebel Area into two sections, separated by a tributary of the Overpeck Creek.

South Area

Area in Leonia south of the Henry Hoebel Area alongside Fort Lee Road.

The area consists of four picnic areas. Along with a playground for children up to age 12, there is a baseball/softball field and volleyball and basketball courts. The Bergen Equestrian Center, formerly known as the Overpeck Riding Center, is located in this area. The center is a horseback riding center that features a riding arena and paddocks; it is the most notable amenity and attraction of the area.

Palisades Park Area

Area in Palisades Park along Roosevelt Street. The area consists of four tennis courts; picknicking and horseshoes are available in this area. Usage of the ball fields require a permit.

Ridgefield Park Area

Area in Ridgefield Park along Challenger Road, off Emerson Road. This area is 22 acres and consists of 2 softball fields and 2 soccer fields.

References

External links

• On Overpeck County Park NY-NJ-CT Botany Online.
• Overpeck County Park - Henry Hoebel Area
• Teterboro Online about the park
• Leonia, NJ - About Overpeck Park