Wyckoff—strong community spirit, lower taxes
Nestled in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains, Wyckoff (pop. 16,500) is at the very top of the list of desirable places to live in Bergen County. Lenapi Native Americans first settled our area 10,000 years ago, with the first Europeans arriving in the 1700s. Zabriskie House, constructed in 1720 and one of the first permanent homes in Wyckoff, has been preserved and is now the town museum. The Lenape’s Minisink Trail (from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean) ran through the western section of our 6.7 square mile town.
Wyckoff is known for having the lowest taxes in our area (1.7% of a home’s value annually), exceptional municipal services, and strong community volunteerism. Beginning with our vibrant volunteer fire department and ambulance corps, this spirit extends through a wide range of civic organizations including the Wyckoff recreation programs, the school PTO’s, the Wyckoff Educational Foundation, Friends of the Library, Partners in Pride, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Rotary, Wyckoff Newcomers and Neighbors Club, Women for Progress, Activities Unlimited, and the Wyckoff Senior Club, to name a few. There are 14 houses of worship.
Wyckoff (wyckoff-nj.com) is served directly by two express bus lines and four train lines to Penn Station and Hoboken just two miles from our borders. Wyckoff has a lively central business district with restaurants, bars, boutiques, a supermarket and other stores. We also still have a working farm, Abma’s, continuing an agricultural tradition which goes back hundreds of years. Wyckoff is also home to Congressman Josh Gottheimer and two state assemblymen.
Known for its top-quality public education, including programs for children with special needs, Wyckoff has four elementary schools and a Blue Ribbon middle school. There are also two private religious grammar schools. Students have their choice of two regional high schools with optional university programs in engineering, science, medicine, business and international relations, and a wide range of sports and other clubs.
Our free public library is a hub of cultural activity and meeting space for more than 112 other organizations. Traditions enjoyed by generations of Wyckoffians include the Memorial Day Parade, the annual Fishing Derby in Zabriskie Pond, Wyckoff Day, our Labor Day weekend fireworks display, and holiday festivities on the Town Hall lawn in December.
There’s an expression in town that “you can’t spell Wyckoff without a “Y”—that being a reference to the Wyckoff Family YMCA, the most successful YMCA in New Jersey. The Y is much more than a place to work out or swim in one of two pools or the summer outdoor facility; it sponsors hundreds of classes, programs, summer camps, and clubs for folks of all ages and abilities, including musical theater. The Y also provides convenient local day care facilities for young families. The Christian Health Care Center (the “CHCC”) provides accommodation for seniors who may live independently or need skilled nursing care. It also has an adult day care program. We are within 15 minutes of two top medical centers in Ridgewood and Hackensack.
Consistently rated one of New Jersey’s safest towns, Wyckoff is also famous for its parks and recreation facilities, including being home to what nj.com called “the state’s least-known romantic spot,” The Gardens of Wyckoff, a 13-acre park with more than 500 rose bushes. The 81-acre Bergen County Wildlife Center, established in 1962, is known for its pond and walking trail also finds its home here. Please come by and visit! — Brian D. Scanlan, Mayor of Wyckoff