Woodland Park offers an idyllic setting with two large parks, a reservoir and NYC skyline views. The hilly streets of this small suburb dot the northern ridge of the First Watchung Mountain in Passaic County, home to Garrett Mountain Reservation. The winding Passaic River cuts through the western part. Formerly known as West Paterson, Woodland Park resides about 17 miles west of Midtown and is home to about 13,000. Though just three-square miles, it’s surrounded by larger suburbs like Totowa and Clifton, home to big-box shopping, corporate offices, and medical facilities. “It’s a well-established home market with lots of diverse offerings,” says Michael Schiff, an experienced agent heading The Michael Schiff Team at Keller Williams in Montclair. “It’s easy to commute to NYC,” he adds. It’s also close to St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, known for its children’s hospital.
Community life thrives in Woodland Park neighborhood.
A row of colonial houses is located on a tranquil street in Woodland Park.
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Garrett Mountain Reservation and wildlife sightings
Garrett Mountain Reservation and Rifle Camp Park are the two main wooded areas giving Woodland Park its name. The former encompasses 568 acres on the northern end and includes hiking, an equestrian center, fishing holes and scenic overlooks. Rifle Camp Park to the south is smaller, spanning 225 acres, but also includes hiking trails as well as two dog parks, campsites and playgrounds. Wildlife sightings aren’t uncommon, as the parks are home to skunks, foxes, possums, raccoons, coyotes and hawks. Deer are the most prevalent. Frank D Zaccaria Memorial Park is smaller, but large enough for a splash pad, tennis and basketball courts. Just north, the city of Paterson is home to Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and its 77-foot-high waterfall.
Explore equine wonders at Garrett Mountain Equestrian Center.
Admire scenic beauty at Garrett Mountain's Auto Overlook.
Scenic vistas await at Garrett Mountain's Auto Overlook
Find peace by Garrett Mountain's Barbour Pond.
Begin your adventure at Garrett Mountain' Reservation.
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Diverse spectrum at lower price point
Deer commonly roam the windy, woodsy streets overlooking the towns below. Older Cape Cods, colonials and split levels are popular, and homes tend to be larger with more land near the top of the mountain. Homes along Rifle Camp Road and Mountain Avenue near the parks offer more land and larger properties, while homes closest to Paterson are denser and smaller with less of a park-like feel. “We get downsizers and first-time homebuyers,” Schiff says, since the wide housing stock includes a mix of single-family, multi-family, townhomes and condos. Properties, and property taxes, are also priced lower here than nearby towns like Montclair. The Four Seasons at Great Notch is a desirable 55-plus community, where some units offer skyline views. Two-bedroom condos start around $300,000 and starter homes can be found for less than $400,000. Homes at the high-end list for about a million, but $515,000 is the median.
Welcome to the Woodland Park community.
Detached single-family homes offer comfortable living.
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Woodland Park Day is a highlight
The community unites in fall for the annual Woodland Park Day, involving concerts, a watermelon-eating contest, beer garden and fireworks. The town also organizes year-round events, including a Memorial Day Parade, easter egg hunt, summer concert series, Halloween parade and tree lighting festival. The West Paterson Boys and Girls Club is an active after-school community, and the rec department also organizes programs like summer camp and adult pickleball lessons. The Alfred H. Bauman Library also holds community classes for all ages and is raising funds to update its facility.
Major retail and Upper Montclair downtown are close
A small number of businesses are scattered around town, with strip mall options along McBride Avenue and Browertown Road. Two of the most popular spots are along Route 46: Park West Diner, a classic retro Jersey diner, and Great Notch Inn, a legendary venue for live rock and blues. From the outside, this popular biker roadhouse resembles a Western saloon. Route 46 traverses the southern border, a busy stretch with big-box retail like Barnes and Noble, car dealerships and the nearby ShopRite of Little Falls. Additional chain shopping is abundant in Totowa and Clifton. Willowbrook Mall, a large complex anchored by Macy’s and Bloomingdales, is in nearby Wayne, and the compact downtown of Upper Montclair is also close.
Go shopping at at Plaza 76.
ShopRite" is a well-known grocery store located in the Woodland Park neighborhood.
The Woodland Park neighborhood is a retail paradise for the residents in the area.
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Small district that combines at high school level
Students attend Charles Olbon School from pre-kindergarten through second grade, rated a B plus on Niche. They continue to Beatrice Gilmore Elementary School for grades three through five, ranked a 5 out of 10 on Great Schools. Memorial Middle School holds a B minus on Niche. Students finish at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, an A-minus school that combines students from Little Falls, Woodland Park and Totowa. It’s known for its strong football team.
Education blooms at Charles Olbon School.
"Education thrives at Memorial Middle School.
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No train or bus, but nearby options
Commuters have close proximity to Interstate 80 and Route 46. NYC commuters have the option to drive to NJ Transit stations in Little Falls or at Montclair State University, or catch an express bus from Willowbrook Mall. Both options reach the city in under an hour.
The Willowbrook Mall bus stop provides transportation services to the residents of Woodland Park
Woodland Park is easily accessible, thanks to its proximity to Route 46 and I-80.
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Flood risk and small college campus
Homes near the Peckman and Passaic rivers, at the bottom of the mountain, are in a flood zone and require insurance. The town has received federal funding to address the Peckman River. And Berkeley College is a private school offering undergraduate and graduate classes.
Discover opportunities at Berkeley College.
The starter homes are situated alongside the Passaic River in the Woodland Park neighborhood.
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