Home to about 5,500 residents, Old Tappan is a friendly community on the shores of beautiful Lake Tappan in northeast New Jersey. Ample parks, steadily appreciating real estate and excellent schools make this human-scale community an ideal place to bring up a family.
Location
Old Tappan is in Bergen County, in the north east corner of New Jersey. Neighboring River Vale and Hillsdale are to the west of Old Tappan and Westwood and Tanafly are directly south. Woodcliffe Lake (the town and the lake) are northwest.
Yonkers is just under 10 miles east of Old Tappan, across the Hudson, and Jersey City is 20 miles away. New York City is about 22 miles south of Old Tappan
Geography
On the shores of Lake Tappan, Old Tappan is about 5 miles east of the Hudson River in northeast New Jersey. Lake Tappan brings the pleasures of boating and swimming in summer and skating in winter; year round town residents enjoy the lake’s picturesque beauty.
Jobs
New Jersey has a steady economy built on a diverse economic base. Bergen County is prosperous, with thriving manufacturing, technology and educational industries and the local workforce is well educated. Local business owners find helpful resources and economic incentives provided by the Bergen County Economic Development Corporation, and New Jersey’s sophisticated road and rail network provides further support to businesses.
Social services, education and health provide much of the local employment, as does administration, management and finance; real estate, retail and insurance sectors are also doing well.
Recreation
Old Tappan is a pretty town with ample green spaces and good landscaping. Beautiful Stone Point Park has a playground, four ball fields, a running track and bocce court, and a field house with kitchen and bathroom. Many town events are held here, including the annual Town Day celebration.
Oakes Park has a pretty gazebo and a 9/11 memorial.
There are 3 baseball fields and basketball courts in town, a good ice skating rink and 3 athletic fields.
Old Tappan also has its own golf course.
The borough employs a recreation director to provide sporting and recreational events for Old Tappan citizens; these include several sporting teams, summer sports camps, children’s events, and programs for people with special needs.
Wood Dale County Park, to the west of Old Tappan, has tennis courts, a children’s playground, a bike path, and lake fishing.
The Hudson River is not far from Old Tappan; this can be explored by kayak, canoe and boat, and there are acres of parkland on the banks.
Besides providing town residents with lovely views, Lake Tappan is a recreational paradise, offering boating, swimming, kayaking and ice skating.
Special Attractions/Events
Old Tappan is a family-friendly community, with good amenities and parks, close to the cultural and historical treasures of New Jersey and New York City.
The Bergen Museum of Arts and Science in nearby Paramus has excellent interactive art and science exhibits and the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood hosts premiere musical and dance acts, including the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
For inspiration visit Liberty State Park overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in nearby Jersey City, before strolling through the acres of parkland on the banks of the Hudson River.
Townspeople enjoy getting together for regular Farmer’s Markets and special events like the Easter Egg hunt each summer and the annual Town Day Celebration.
Interesting Historic Fact
Old Tappan gets its name from the Delaware Indian for cold water “Tuphanne”. It is thought that the “Old” was added later to distinguish this historic community from Tappan in New York, of which Old Tappan was formerly a part.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
