Park Ridge

Many New Jersey towns have a claim to fame with the HBO series "The Sopranos," as it filmed on location frequently during its run. But Park Ridge may have the greatest claim of all. James Gandolfini, aka Tony Soprano, grew up in this Bergen County borough, where he frequented The Ridge, a diner, and graduated from Park Ridge High.

Park Ridge is a small borough that is relatively walkable. Like several other Bergen County neighborhoods, it is roughly two miles south of the New York State border. "People love living in Park Ridge," says Realtor Bob Dzienis of eXp Realty. "Park Ridge is one of the great towns in the Pascack Valley of Bergen County, from its beautiful homes to some great amenities, excellent schools, and ease of commutability to New York City and Hoboken." Homebuyers are also drawn to the borough because Park Ridge has its own utility system, which provides water and electricity to residents at a reduced rate.

While the borough covers less than 3 square miles, it is home to nearly 9,000 residents because of the number of town house and condominium complexes. The best-known development is Bears Nest, a luxury gated town house community. Bears Nest has several community amenities like a fitness center, pool, putting green and tennis courts. Notable Bears Nest residents have included President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat. Units with elevators can cost around $1 million. Park Ridge's residential streets also feature many single-family homes with large front lawns. Residents mostly live in colonials, split-levels and ranch-style homes that were built between the 1950s and 1970s. Over the years, some have been torn down and replaced with larger, more modern homes. Housing prices in Park Range range between $425,000 and $1.6 million.

Local children can attend Park Ridge Public Schools from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. "The schools are excellent and highly rated, and many people choose Park Ridge because of the schools' high reputations," Dzienis says. The youngest learners begin at East Brook Elementary School or West Ridge Elementary School. Both elementary schools have overall A ratings from Niche and begin teaching foreign languages in kindergarten. For seventh through 12th grade, all neighborhood children attend Park Ridge High School. Park Ridge High School has a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 and an overall A ranking from Niche. Niche also recognizes Park Ridge High in the state's top 115 best public high schools.

Looking for something to do? The Park Ridge Recreation & Cultural Committee has you covered. This volunteer group organizes year-long, including parades, tree lighting and a summer concert series. The committee runs two major events: an annual summer camp and a town picnic. The borough's athletic association is also very active, offering a variety of recreational sports, including soccer and baseball. When summertime hits, you can find all your neighbors at the Park Ridge Municipal Pool. The pool offers swim lessons, Red Cross lifeguard training and special events. There are also competitive swim and diving teams neighborhood children can join.

When hunger strikes, satisfy it at The Ridge Diner, Gandolfini's old haunt. Open daily, the diner has all the classics, including a large breakfast menu and plenty of sandwich and burger options. Park Ridge, like any Jersey town, has a local bagel place. At Goldberg's Original Bagels, enjoy a bacon egg and cheese on an everything bagel or bring home a baker's dozen (14 bagels) to enjoy with your family. For a nice dinner, make a reservation at The Park Steakhouse, where you can indulge in various steak cuts or seafood entrees. When cooking at home, there's a Lidl right in town and a Wegmans and Whole Foods nearby. For shopping trips, drive roughly 10 miles across state lines and find what you're looking for at the Palisades Center. This four-level mall has over 200 stores and 15 sit-down restaurants.

If you're commuting into Manhattan, hop on the train and be at Penn Station in about an hour or take the bus straight into the Port Authority Bus Terminal. If you're looking to settle down in a small town with highly ranked schools and an emphasis on community, Park Ridge may be the place for you.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Brendan Rogers

Video By

Matt Pangman