“Welcome to Woodland Park” once echoed through these lands. This story isn’t about a park filled with trees in a city. It is about a New Jersey borough that was once called West Paterson.
Woodland Park is a suburban town with mountain and river-edge neighborhoods. It is one of sixteen municipalities in Passaic County. Let’s explore its story.
Woodland Park sits in northeastern New Jersey. It lies about 20 miles west of New York City. Interstate 80 borders the town to the north. U.S. 46 runs along its southern edge. Garret Mountain forms the eastern border. The Passaic River flows to the west.
The Borough of Woodland Park is southwest of Paterson. To the east is the City of Clifton. Little Falls Township and Totowa Borough border it to the south and west respectively.
Woodland Park covers almost three square miles. In 2010, the U.S. Census recorded 11,819 residents. This makes it the seventh most populous in the county. The population increased by 7.6 percent from 2000. Passaic County is eighth in population. Yet it is only the fourth largest in land area.
Woodland Park is a developed municipality. It features residential, retail, office, and industrial properties. However, much of the borough remains open space. This includes municipal parkland, two county parks, and two reservoirs.
The area was formerly known as West Paterson. The name officially changed to the Borough of Woodland Park on January 1, 2009.
A referendum was held on November 4, 2008. Voters favored the name change with 2,136 Yes votes to 2,111 No votes. On December 17, 2008, the Mayor and Council approved the results. Woodland Park became the borough’s new name.
Another referendum tried to revert the name back to West Paterson. This vote occurred on November 3, 2009. Voters rejected the change with 2,248 No votes to 2,216 Yes votes. So, the official name remains Woodland Park.
Woodland Park has direct highway access. Interstate 80 has exits at Squirrelwood Road. U.S. Route 46 connects via Paterson Avenue, McBride Avenue, and other roads. State Route 3 accesses Woodland Park at Notch Road.
The municipality offers a blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. Woodland Park provides a unique place to live and work. The current property tax rate is 3.079 per $100 of assessed value as of January 1, 2017. The average home value is $344,741. The total assessed value is $1,672,979,600. Green space makes up 33.4% of the borough.
From West Paterson to Woodland Park, the borough evolved. It balanced development and nature. It is a vibrant part of Passaic County. The name Woodland Park reflects its commitment to green spaces. It honors its location near mountains and rivers.