“Small town values next door to big city dreams”
Glen Ridge commuters may spend their days in the over-stimulated, high tech bustle of the modern world, but they retreat home each night to the quiet glow of the 19th century. With 650 gas lamps lighting the way through neighborhoods showcasing turn-of-the-century homes, Glen Ridge offers upscale living laced with historic charm.
This 1.5 square mile enclave has less than 8,000 residents and a decidedly small-town vibe. Neighborhoods are friendly, children play outside, and folks flock to the many parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields for community and family fun. On Memorial Day, people line the streets, and watch the parade go by. It’s then off to the town pools’ Opening Day festivities where children (and kids at heart) can splash in the pool and take turns on the waterslide. In the fall, the Womens’ Club rolls out the Fall Harvest Festival and Thanksgiving Day brings out the entire community for the much-loved Ashenfelter 8K Classic. In the winter, Glen Ridge rings in the holiday season with its municipal tree lighting. Spring is the perfect time to visit Freeman Gardens, a vibrant sanctuary for many species of birds, trees and wild flowers and take in all the sights and sounds of the Glen Ridge Arts Festival. The Glen Ridge Country Club is another summer spot where members enjoy amenities like an Olympic-sized pool and one of the most challenging golf courses in the state.
Repeatedly ranked on lists of “Top Places to Raise a Family in NJ” and “Top NJ Schools,” Glen Ridge boasts an education system that rivals the best in the country. With an enrollment of less than 2,000, the district’s student-teacher ratio is an enviable 11 to 1. The high school offers a diverse curriculum with emphasis on college preparation, and student SAT scores are consistently higher than state average. Students also have a wealth of extracurricular activities to choose from including competitive athletics, visual and performing arts, and community service groups like Heroes & Cool Kids, whose members mentor younger children.
Just 14 miles from Manhattan, Glen Ridge is a quick 32-minute trip on the NJ Transit Midtown Direct Line. And although the town does offer jitney service, many commuters prefer to walk to the charming turn-of-the-century station.
While Glen Ridge is mostly residential, the quaint town center does include conveniences like Starbucks, a pharmacy, a sandwich shop, and a yoga studio. There is only one full-service restaurant in town, Fitzgerald’s 1928, but with Montclair’s vibrant shopping and restaurant districts within walking distance, most residents don’t seem to mind.
So if you’re looking for a place where small town values are nestled next door to big city dreams, come to Glen Ridge – and plant roots as deep and as strong as the town’s 214 year old Oak trees.