Summit Park Line Project Underway, City Provides Update

SUMMIT, NJ — A project to transform a historic elevated railroad into a linear park reminiscent of The High Line in New York City is underway in Summit.

Director of the Department of Community Services Aaron Schrager provided an update on the project, entitled the Summit Park Line, at last week's council meeting.

Schrager said Phase 1 of the project is complete, which involved creating a path between Broad Street and Morris Avenue. Beautification and maintenance in this area is still ongoing.

Phase 1A is currently under construction. This involves building a pedestrian bridge that traverses Morris Avenue, which will be three feet higher than what was there previously. Schrager said the bridge, which will have a 17-foot clearance over Morris, should be complete by late October.

As proposed, the 1.2-mile-long Park Line will begin a few hundred yards from downtown Summit,
winding through eastern Summit all the way to Orchard Road in Springfield Township. The trail will run along the elevated former Rahway Valley Railroad, providing views of the Manhattan skyline.

The Park Line is intended to serve as a "gateway feature" for the City — a place for both active and passive recreation and a new pathway that connects local attractions, parks, major employment centers and Jefferson Elementary School.

When complete, the Park Line will be the first new park in Summit in 85 years, according to the city.

Rahway River Railroad is considered a historic landmark, as it was a short-line railroad that connected the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Roselle Park and the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Cranford with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in Summit.

The railroad operated for 95 years, from 1897 to 1992 in Union County, and was considered one of the most successful short-line railroads in U.S. history, generating a profit during the Great Depression. It was eventually sold to the Deleware Otsego Corporation, which did little to revitalize the railroad, and traffic continued to decline until service ended in 1992.

According to the Park Line Foundation, the railroad line was quickly overtaken by nature and has been disregarded by many Summit residents. Dr. Robert J. Rubino, a City Council member and former President of the Summit Common Council first championed the Park Line vision in 2014, which he believed was a unique way to bring green space to Summit. He is now the president of the Summit Park Line Foundation.

“We are thrilled about the progress we have been making and are looking forward to the Morris Avenue bridge placement so we can begin work on the next phase of the project,” explained Rubino in a recent statement.

“This entire project has been a community effort and partnership amongst the foundation, residents, and agencies that have helped us to not only raise necessary funds but also volunteer on a weekly basis at the Park Line to clear and beautify the space. We are so thankful for all the community support we have received over the years and truly can’t wait to see Summit residents and visitors enjoy the space for years to come.”

Schrager said Phase 2 of the project involves installing fencing and planting landscape buffers on Henry Street. He said the plan is to begin planting/installing from October to April of 2023.

Phase 3 will involve building two bridges over Ashwood Ave. and Russell Place, and Schrager said they are looking to obtain engineering proposals for the design. Possible construction of the bridges will take place next summer, Schrager said.

Lastly, Phase 4 involves collaborating with the Onyx Headquarters to create a path that connects downtown Summit to the development.

Schrager said no city funds have been spent on this project. The Summit Park Line Foundation received a $30,000 grant from the national Rail Trail Conservancy organization to help fund the project.

Councilman Danny O'Sullivan asked Schrager how the bridge construction will affect traffic on Morris Avenue.

Schrager said the bridge is probably a "20-minute job" as it comes delivered in one piece and will then be put in place by a crane. He said the preparation process for this, however, will close Morris Avenue for a full day. He said this will likely occur on a Saturday and a detour will be in place.

You can learn more about the Park Line here, and view the full council meeting below:

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