ABOUT TIME! NORTH BERGEN TO END USE OF BRADDOCK PARK TRAILERS, LAUNCH FREE FULL-DAY PRE-K PROGRAM IN 2025

North Bergen is set to close a controversial chapter in its early childhood education system. Beginning September 2025, the township will no longer use classroom trailers in Braddock Park for preschool instruction—a practice that has lasted 24 years and drawn repeated criticism from state officials and local advocates.

The district announced it will replace the trailers with a new, free full-day Pre-K 4 program for all eligible children, and a limited Pre-K 3 option for families who meet federal poverty guidelines. The move marks the first time North Bergen will offer free full-day preschool and is expected to ease the financial burden on working families.

The 17 temporary classroom units currently occupy 1.25 acres of James J. Braddock North Hudson Park. Though originally intended as a short-term fix when installed in 2001, the trailers remained in use despite a 2011 order from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), which found them in violation of laws protecting public recreational space. Since then, the township has operated the site under increasing pressure to find alternatives.

“This is a huge step forward for our families,” Mayor Nicholas Sacco said. “They will not only see their children begin their educational journey with the best possible start, but will also save an estimated $10,000 per year by no longer needing to pay for private daycare.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Solter said the expansion is designed to better serve local families. “We are proud to finally offer free full-day Pre-K programs to meet the needs of both our students and parents,” he said.

Starting in Fall 2025, Pre-K 4 classes will be held at local elementary schools. The limited Pre-K 3 program will be offered at a licensed Head Start facility, with priority given to low-income families. That program is expected to serve 60 students and may expand in the future with the construction of a permanent modular building.

District officials say the shift is also aimed at complying with the NJDEP’s Diversion Process, which requires the town to either restore the recreational land occupied by the trailers or replace it with equivalent parkland elsewhere.

Registration for the 2025–2026 school year opens May 1. Parents must apply in person at the current North Bergen Pre-K Center at 8701 Boulevard East between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Enrollment for the Pre-K 3 program will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.