With more than 1,100 people per square mile, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the Union. Much of this population resides in the northeast portion of the state where development pressures are intense, especially along the waterfront. Fulfilling the duties as required by the Public Trust Doctrine of preserving and protecting public access to trust lands, waters, and resources in this urban setting can be a significant challenge for the state’s planners and lawmakers. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway (Walkway), a waterfront corridor spanning nine municipalities, balances the interests of economic development along a thriving waterfront with the public's right to access opportunities along tidal waters.

The concept for the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway first appeared in "The Lower Hudson", a study completed in 1966 by the Regional Plan Association. Twelve years after the publication of “The Lower Hudson”, Governor Brendan Byrne established the Hudson River Waterfront Study, Planning, and Development Commission. Their final report included a strong, unanimously-adopted recommendation for a continuous public walkway extending along the Hudson River

In 1988, the Coastal Zone Management rules established specific criteria for development along the Hudson River Waterfront Area including the creation of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. When complete, this Walkway will be an urban waterfront corridor connecting the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee with the Bayonne Bridge in Bayonne. As the crow flies it will extend about 18.4 miles, but the total length will exceed 40 miles. Nearly complete, the Walkway offers residents and visitors spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, the New York City skyline, Ellis Island, and the Hudson River.

Under the Coastal Zone Management rules, each new development or redevelopment project in the area is required to construct and maintain a segment of the Walkway “coincident with the shoreline of the development” according to established design guidelines and standards. The rules require that 24-hour public access be provided for recreational use of the walkway. The Hudson Waterfront Walkway Plan and Design Guidelines (1984) were written to assist NJDEP permit reviewers, developers, and local officials in determining appropriate and adequate public access to the Hudson River Waterfront. The Guidelines specify requirements for bicycle access, preservation of views of the waterfront, and development of parks and plazas. Trails and scenic overlooks are encouraged.

Historically, public access to the waterfront in this urban area was precluded by industrial use of the land. As existing land uses change, this "pathway for the people" is reestablishing the public's right of access to and full enjoyment of the tidally flowed and formerly flowed filled waterways. The Walkway integrates historic neighborhoods with new offices, housing and commercial development. People are drawn to the waterfront and the open space, views, and community feel of the area, and visitors to the Walkway engage in a variety of recreational activities including walking, running, biking, sightseeing, and fishing. The Walkway is a testament to the value of imaginative urban planning that considers the public benefit at large.

Through public-private partnerships established among state and local government, commercial developers, and public interest groups, additional segments of the Walkway have been and will be constructed. In 2002, the NJ Coastal Management Program facilitated the construction of a Walkway section on land leased for 50 years to the City of Hoboken from Stevens Institute of Technology. The city will maintain the 1100 foot long Walkway and associated 125 foot long fishing pier known as Castle Point Park. The project was constructed using funds from the Federal Highway Administration Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, NJDOT Discretionary Municipal Aid, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Gap Site Appropriation, and NJDEP's Green Acres Program. Design costs were funded in part by the Harbor Cleanup Program.

The Coastal Management Program is coordinating with the Stevens Institute of Technology to continue the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway for approximately 400 feet south of the Castle Point segment. The new section of Walkway will link Castle Point Park with Frank Sinatra Park, resulting in a continuous Walkway from Union Dry Dock all the way to Hoboken Terminal.

The NJDEP is also committed to closing the gap in the Walkway along the Morris Canal Little Basin in Jersey City. In November 2008 the NJ Department of Treasury, in coordination with the NJDEP, executed a contract with Langan Engineering & Environmental Services to provide the design for this segment of Walkway. The Morris Canal Little Basin Walkway will connect the existing Walkway at Goldman Sachs to the Walkway at Sugar House. In addition to the Walkway, the project includes construction of a public waterfront park on property owned by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Among other amenities, the park will feature a ramp for safe access to the water for kayaks. Park landscaping and scenic beautification will enhance the aesthetic, environmental, and historic qualities of the area. According to the preliminary project schedule, final design documents will be completed by August 2009. It is anticipated that Langan will secure all necessary local, state, and federal permits and conveyances by November 2009.

Also in Jersey City, NJ Transit is in the final stages of construction of the Long Slip Pedestrian Bridge. This 175 foot section of Walkway will link to a new temporary walkway connecting the Newport area of Jersey City with the Hoboken Terminal, providing pedestrians with a direct path to light rail, commuter rail, bus, PATH and ferry services. The temporary walkway will be constructed by the Newport Associates Development Company, the developers of Newport, and will be completed in advance of the pedestrian bridge. It is anticipated that the NJ Transit sponsored project will be completed by summer of 2009.

The NJDEP Division of Compliance and Enforcement has begun work on a comprehensive GIS-based map of the entire Walkway. Upon completion this map will show completed stretches of Walkway and access points, remaining ‘gap’ sites, and will include information on Walkway amenities such as benches, bike racks, and parking.

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