The highlights of New Providence include beautiful residential neighborhoods, an excellent school system, and wonderful recreation facilities. New Providence is a warm and welcoming community with a vibrant downtown. Recently, the town completed a $1.5 million streetscape project. There are fine specialty shops and an abundance of delicious restaurants to try. The borough is located approximately 28 miles south of New York City and commuting there is made simple with two easily accessible train stations within the town.

Situated on the second slope of the Watchung Mountains, New Providence borders Chatham Township, Summit and Berkeley Heights. A large portion of Murray Hill is within New Providence, while the balance is in Berkeley Heights. Convenient for commuters, it is about 15 miles from Newark and less than 30 miles from Manhattan.

New Providence was known as Turkeytown during Colonial times due to a large population of wild turkeys. In recognition of those early days, a turkey is featured on the town's police uniform emblems. New Providence's name was established after a balcony collapsed at the Presbyterian church, and churchgoers concluded that nobody was hurt due to divine providence, leading them to call it New Providence.

Community Life

The town's website has a tagline that sums up the general feeling of its residents: "New Providence: Nice People, Nice Place." Numerous in-town conveniences such as two swimming pools, multiple parks, a library and a shopping center create an ideal backdrop for this close-knit community. The downtown business district recently completed a $1.5 million project to enhance the streetscape. An annual street fair is a well-attended event along South Street every September with music, games, kid-friendly activities, food and more. The New Providence Business and Professional Association sponsors the street fair as well as summer concerts, Fourth of July fireworks, a 5K race, car show and other outdoor events.

Over 9% of New Providence's land is publicly-owned and protected parkland. Several borough-owned parks include Veterans Memorial Park on South Street, Lyons Park on Livingston Avenue and Clearwater Park near the end of Central Avenue. Each park is located alongside Salt Creek, which runs from the Passaic River.

The Recreation Department offers a selection of programs for children and adults. The department oversees three playgrounds, an ice-skating rink, eight ball fields and eight tennis courts. Two swimming pools are managed by the New Providence Community Pool Corporation.

Education

The public school district serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Two kindergarten to grade six schools are Allen W. Roberts Elementary School and Salt Brook Elementary School. In 2011, Salt Brook School was recognized as a National School of Character.

The New Providence Middle School for grades seven and eight shares some of its facilities with the connecting New Providence High School. New Providence High School was named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School by the United State Department of Education for their sustained high achievement.

New Providence is also home to The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, a private Catholic elementary school for students in pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.

Transportation

Whether traveling locally or abroad, New Providence enjoys a strategic location near major highways, train stations and an international airport. Commuters can take advantage of Midtown Direct service to Manhattan's Penn Station from stops in New Providence or Murray Hill.

A network of nearby roadways includes the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, Routes 78, 24 and 287. Lakeland Bus Lines has weekday service from stops along Springfield Avenue to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 16 miles east of New Providence.

Real Estate

Many homes in New Providence were built during the 1950s and 60s in neighborhoods of attractive, well-kept homes on tree-lined streets. The Murray Hill section of town has larger Colonials built from the 1960s onward. There are many choices of home styles ranging from condominiums, co-ops and townhomes to single-family dwellings like Cape Cods, Ranches, Victorians, Colonials, split levels and custom homes.

Local Attractions

The Presbyterian Church at New Providence is a historic white church located in the center of town at 1307 Springfield Avenue. The borough's name of New Providence was created here after a balcony collapsed and no one was injured, thought to be the work of Divine Providence by church members. The church has been a mainstay in New Providence since the 1700s; a plaque on the grounds notes that 48 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in the church's cemetery.

The Farmers Market is a seasonal offering that takes place rain or shine every Wednesday from June until October. It is located in the parking lot of the Municipal Center on Elkwood Avenue.

The New Providence Memorial Library is located at 377 Elkwood Avenue and is an integral part of the community. Offerings include a book club, movie afternoons, art displays and children's story times. E-books, best sellers and DVDs are also available.

The Salt Box Museum at 1350 Springfield Avenue is operated by the New Providence Historical Society. It houses maps, old newspapers, vintage photos and other historic documents relating to the borough's founding, some dating back to the 1600s.