NJIT Alumni, Students Lead $69.2M Newark Rail-to-Park Conversion Project

New Jersey Institute of Technology graduates are running construction on the Newark section of the New Jersey Greenway. This $69.2 million project will transform an old rail line into a state park set to open in spring 2027. Marjorie Perry, president and CEO of MZM Construction & Management Company, joined with AECOM Tishman to run the work. They hired current students from the school to join the construction crew.

The Newark section will give visitors one mile of ADA-accessible trail from Branch Brook Park to Broadway. Three community gathering spaces will sit along this section. The $69.2 million investment marks the largest single amount in state history for acquiring and developing a new state park.

Perry and Michael Kasian, an AECOM Tishman executive, found students through Handshake, the school’s career platform. Within 24 hours, they got strong applicants. Gira Abdou, studying civil engineering, and Denilson Olivera, who studied mechanical engineering, were hired.

“Well-educated, fresh, and talented people that lived close by were important aspects of choosing the right candidates for this project,” Kasian said, according to NJIT News. “Being an alumnus of 1985, I wanted to offer a starting position to graduating students that allowed for work on local projects.”

Rosana Caputo, another graduate, runs the Newark section for AECOM Tishman. The hired engineers help with shop drawings, submittal tracking, specification reviews, and field coordination.

The full Greenway will stretch nine miles. It will link eight municipalities across Essex and Hudson counties. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection owns the corridor and will manage it as a state park. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority runs construction.

Construction crews are preparing the old rail bed, grading for trail alignment, and performing environmental cleanup. Green infrastructure and stormwater management features will support ecological restoration. The path will have gentle grades and better access points.

“This isn’t a project in some far-off place,” Perry said. “It’s happening here — in Newark, in NJIT’s backyard. These students can literally see the impact of what they’re building.”

The Newark Central Activity Center will have a performance stage with lawn space and multi-sport courts. The Tiffany Manor Community Space will offer scenic views and seating. The Branch Brook Park Overlook will connect visitors to the 360-acre park next door.

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