Glen Ridge is a quaint community characterized by its charming gas-lit street lamps. Just 11 miles from Manhattan, its 7,000 plus residents enjoy a friendly, small town atmosphere where the town hall, library, post office, stores, banks, professional offices and train station are all centrally located. Ridgewood Avenue, the main street running through town, is thought by many to be one of the prettiest streets in New Jersey.
Glen Ridge is regulary recognized for its excellent school system. The Forest Avenue and Linden Avenue elementary schools, located at opposite ends of the town serve students Pre-K-2. Students in grades 3-6 attend Ridgewood Avenue Upper Elementary School and students in grades 7-12 attend the combined Glen Ridge Middle/High School.
Recreational facilities are located throughout Glen Ridge.The new $22 million Carteret Park, complete with playground, baseball and softball fields is found on the south end of town along with the Freeman Rose Gardens, a popular spot for weddings and theatre productions. The Glen Ridge Athletic Association (GRAA) offers a variety of programs for children in grades PreK-8 and also sponsors off-season programs for high school athletes in selected sports. Parent volunteers help make this organization a huge success. During the school year, the town's Recreation Deparatment hosts Friday Nigh Rec at the Ridgewood Avenue Upper Elementary School. This a four-hour playtime for students in grades 3-6.
Glen Ridge is served by a very convenient transportation system. DeCamp buses provide service to the Port Authority in Manhattan and New Jersey Transit provides rail service to mid-town Manhattan and to Hoboken with connecting PATH service to Manhattan. A town operated jitney service allows virtually every resident to commute to Manhattan by train or bus.
Glen Ridge has a full-time police force and volunteer rescue squad. The Montclair Fire Department provides fire services. Mountainside Hospital is located in Montclair/Glen Ridge.