Middlesex County · Raritan River · Route 27 · 08904
Highland Park, New Jersey
Highland Park is a compact, walkable borough on the north bank of the Raritan River, directly across from New Brunswick. Its identity is shaped by a lively Raritan Avenue business district, riverfront recreation, established neighborhoods, a highly local civic culture and immediate access to Rutgers and the New Brunswick transit hub.
Raritan Avenue, Donaldson Park, Livingston Manor, the Highland Park schools, the weekly farmers market and the bridge to New Brunswick make this 1.8-square-mile borough unusually connected for its size.
Highland Park at a glance
Boundary note: Highland Park is its own borough. New Brunswick is across the Raritan River, while Edison surrounds much of the borough on the north and east. NJTGO keeps in-town listings separate and labels outside-the-borough options clearly.
From river crossing to independent borough
Highland Park grew around one of central New Jersey's oldest transportation crossings. The Borough's official history traces the area's development from Lenape paths and a seventeenth-century ferry to the Lincoln Highway era and suburban growth.
John Inian established Raritan River landings and a ferry route; a toll bridge replaced the ferry in 1795.
Rev. John H. Livingston purchased the estate later known as Livingston Manor.
The New Jersey Railroad reached the Highland Park side of the river; today's stone arch rail bridge dates to 1902.
Highland Park separated from Raritan Township, with school governance and local control central to incorporation.
The Livingston Manor neighborhood, begun as a major residential development in 1906, remains one of the borough's best-known historic areas. Commercial activity continues to concentrate on Raritan and Woodbridge avenues.
Borough HistoryRaritan Avenue & downtown
Raritan Avenue is both NJ Route 27 and Highland Park's main street. The corridor mixes restaurants, grocery shopping, independent retail, medical and professional services, apartments and community events. Main Street Highland Park manages downtown programming and economic-development initiatives in partnership with the Borough.
212 Raritan Avenue · Fridays from March 6 through December 11, 2026. April–October hours are 11 AM–5 PM; March, November and December are 11 AM–4 PM.
Programming includes outdoor movies, Arts in the Park, the townwide garage sale, Halloween on the Avenue and holiday market weekends.
Current Borough plans include downtown redevelopment tracts and 2025–2026 plans for several Raritan Avenue properties. Verify project status before relying on a site plan or timeline.
Parks & recreation
South Second Avenue · 81-acre Middlesex County riverfront park with paved trails, boat launch/dock, dog park, playground, picnic groves, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, tennis and pickleball.
Borough recreation site with an ADA-accessible play structure, 400-meter track, turf field and year-round recreation programming.
The river shapes the borough's south edge and provides a waterfront landscape uncommon in many inner-ring suburbs. Follow posted river, boating and park rules.
Public schools
Highland Park operates its own PreK–12 public school district. The district's four schools are Irving School, Bartle School, Highland Park Middle School and Highland Park High School. District administration is at 435 Mansfield Street.
Primary grades and early childhood programming.
Elementary grades and district elementary programming.
Highland Park Middle School serves the district's middle grades.
Highland Park High School anchors secondary academics, arts and athletics.
Highland Park Public Library
31 North 5th Avenue · 732-572-2750. The library provides borrowing, digital resources, public programs, community information and study/work space. Hours and program schedules can change, so use the library's current calendar before visiting.
Highland Park Public LibraryGetting around
Much of central Highland Park is arranged around Raritan Avenue, with many homes, shops and services reachable on foot.
NJ Transit's New Brunswick station is outside Highland Park, across the river in New Brunswick. It provides Northeast Corridor rail service and Amtrak access.
NJ 27 crosses the river into New Brunswick; Woodbridge Avenue/County Route 514 heads east toward Edison. Route 18 and US 1 are nearby regional connections.
Transit boundary check: New Brunswick Station, Rutgers' main downtown facilities and the major New Brunswick hospitals are not in Highland Park, even though they are very close and heavily used by borough residents.
Borough government
Elsie Foster is Highland Park's mayor in 2026.
221 South Fifth Avenue · Highland Park, NJ 08904 · 732-572-3400.
Mon 8–4 · Tue 8–6 · Wed 8–4 · Thu 8–4 · Fri 8–1.
Explore Highland Park in depth
Use the complete NJTGO set for current local businesses, restaurants, housing, visitor planning, classifieds and employment resources.
Business & ShoppingFood & DrinkPlan a VisitCommunity information reviewed {TODAY}. Event schedules, office hours and development activity can change; verify time-sensitive details with the linked public source.