The mayor of Tenafly told the borough council during the reorganization meeting that the town will focus in 2025 on three priorities: roads and pedestrian safety, parks and recreation, and downtown revitalization.

Why it matters: the initiatives include infrastructure and environmental work that could change neighborhood traffic patterns, create or expand public parks, and direct federal grant money into stream cleanup and stormwater mitigation.

Highlights in the mayor’s address

- Federal grant for Tenafly Brook and Overpeck Creek: the mayor said the borough secured a $1,600,000 federal grant to begin cleaning Tenafly Brook and Overpeck Creek and to support stormwater mitigation improvements.

- Traffic and pedestrian safety projects: a new full traffic signal has been ordered for the Dean Drive and East Clinton intersection, the borough converted a short stretch of Piermont Road in front of Café Angelique into a parking lot (removing one downtown signal) to improve flow and create the potential to enlarge Highland Park, and a four-way stop was installed at Highwood Avenue and J Street. Safety upgrades at the Piermont and River Edge Road corner were said to shorten pedestrian crossing distances.

- Public safety technology and staffing: the mayor said the borough increased resources for the police department to purchase and install license-plate–reading cameras and added one additional police officer to the roster.

- Parks and recreation projects: construction of Grove Street Park was described as underway, with plans for a dog park, gardens and a skate park. The borough opened a new pickleball court and a children’s play area at Roosevelt Commons, installed a new spinner at Froggy Park, and the borough and library partnered to replace the library roof.

- Utilities and repaving coordination: the mayor said PSE&G is performing gas-line work that requires moving meters outside homes; depending on road conditions PSE&G will either fully pay for repaving or share costs for repaving where required by the utility work.

- Downtown improvements and events: the mayor credited the downtown committee and the Tenafly Chamber of Commerce for community events (Spring Fling, Fall Fest, Winter Wonderland), said the borough added downtown lighting, repainted lampposts, planted flowers, restriped streets, and noted the purchase of new benches, trash cans and bike racks for spring installation. The borough also unveiled new downtown electric vehicle charging stations in partnership with a vendor.

Context and next steps

The mayor connected the projects to broader relationships the borough holds with county, state and federal partners and said the stream-cleaning grant will help address stormwater mitigation. The mayor listed other 2025 priorities including planning for a new senior center, building affordable housing for veterans, opening the Grove Street pool as the municipal pool, and continued paving and infrastructure repairs.

Ending

The mayor concluded the reorganization meeting by thanking borough employees, volunteers, professionals and residents and asked for the community’s continued engagement on the presented priorities.