Conditional approval for a controversial athletic field and park in Ridgewood was issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection last week despite strong opposition from some residents.

The Village of Ridgewood on Wednesday announced the approval of plans to redevelop a portion of the John A. L. Zabriskie house site into athletic fields and recreation areas.

The announcement included a copy of the 28-page approval letter from the NJDEP signed by Elizabeth Dragon, assistant commissioner for Community Investment and Economic Revitalization at the DEP.

“Since 2009, when the property was first purchased by the Village to save it from commercial development, the intention has always been to develop a community park on the site,” Ridgewood officials said in last week’s ann

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