Small suburb near NYC with artistic past
Within North Jersey’s historic Bergen County lies the artsy borough of Leonia, a small community with a rich heritage of both creativity and exceptional education. “Leonia is this beautiful little suburban town tucked within walking distance of the George Washington Bridge and public transportation into the city,” says Andee Post, a Realtor with Keller Williams Valley Realty, who grew up in Leonia, works with the Rotary Club of The Palisades and serves as the Vice President of the Leonia Arts organization. “It really is the quintessential bedroom community.” It was first settled in 1668 during the Bergen colony’s early years, and the community evolved from a farming community into the rail suburb of “West Fort Lee” during the mid-19th century before becoming its own borough in 1894. As rural Bergen County suburbanized during the Gilded Age, Leonia became known as an artists’ colony. You can still see remnants of that art community today in Leonia’s sculptures, street art and an art gallery on the second floor of the borough’s brand-new municipal building.
Vintage single-family homes
Unlike other surrounding coastal New Jersey communities, Leonia primarily offers single-family homes. Vintage Cape Cod-style houses, cottages and colonials are spread on gridded streets with above-average yard sizes compared to the rest of this area. Some homes also come with driveways and attached garages, typically selling for $600,000 to $900,000. There are also a few condominium buildings offering one-and-two-bedroom options that go for $300,000 to $600,000.
High grades for Leonia schools
Students may start at Anna C. Scott Elementary, which earns an A from Niche, before going to Leonia Middle with an A-minus. They may then attend Leonia High, which also gets an A and offers specialized academic programs for vocations and trades, fine arts and the humanities.
Overpeck County Park is over 800 acres
Overpeck County Park is a massive recreation hub along Overpeck Creek. With over 800 acres of space, it offers playgrounds, walking paths, an amphitheater and more than a dozen sports facilities. Overpeck Creek is also accessible via a kayak launch in the park’s north end. Smaller pocket parks are spread throughout Leonia, including Wood Park off Broad Avenue with a playground and athletic courts. Dudley C Allen Playground & Dog Park offers more green space and a fenced area for furry friends.
Shopping and dining along Broad Avenue
Broad Avenue is the main hub for businesses, offering an H Mart for general shopping and a diverse collection of local restaurants. With its proximity to Koreatown, there are popular Asian eateries like Choo Choo Train Sushi, which features a model train that delivers food to customers, and Nakahara with authentic Japanese dishes. “It’s probably, in my opinion, the freshest Japanese restaurant in the area,” adds Post. There are even more local dining options, including Fontana Tritone for Italian cuisine and Wolf It for soups and sandwiches.
Leonia Day, Oktoberfest
Each May, the community celebrates Leonia Day, which recognizes the community’s organizations and businesses. The event features local artists, food trucks and family-friendly activities. Another long-standing event is Leonia Oktoberfest, featuring a selection of seasonal brews and food from local breweries.
Close to I-95 and public transportation
Drivers can travel into the heart of Manhattan in as little as 20 minutes via the George Washington Bridge. The 166 express bus offers a 30-minute trip to the Port Authority station, where Leonia commuters can take the ferry to Midtown Manhattan and Wall Street.
Photography Contributed By
James Leynse
