The arden, the area of Arden that extends to Sherwood Forest and Sunnyside Tract, is a peaceful retreat with woodlands brimming with wildflowers and birds. Volunteers maintain its natural beauty at annual woods cleanups and ivy “pulls.” Our pristine forests are the setting for the waymarked Arden Trail, which traces old paths and routes through our rural lands. The trails are built of the distinctive Triassic white heterolithic sandstone found in many of our local buildings and structures.

The heart of the arden is Gild Hall, the center for dinners, concerts and theatrical performances. To one side of Gild Hall is the grassy amphitheater for Moonlight Theater and to the other the Swim Gild’s swimming pool.

Located on the edge of the Palisades Interstate Park, with breathtaking views and rolling woodlands, our property is a cultural and historical treasure. The village of Arden was founded in 1900 as a Single Tax community, inspired by the economic philosophy of Henry George, the Arts and Crafts movement of William Morris, and the Garden City movement of Ebenezer Howard. Half of the land is dedicated as commons (woods, greens and wetlands), which are not taxed; the other half is leased for dwellings.

Residents own their houses and pay a monthly land rent that covers the cost of village, county and school expenses. This system, known as the “Town Meeting Form of Government” is defined in the Act to Reincorporate of July 29, 1996.