the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Village of Ridgewood has announced a public hearing to address a long-standing land issue involving 0.378 acres of former parkland that was sold without proper approval in 1983. The meeting will take place on September 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Patrick A. Mancuso Senior Center, located on the first floor of Ridgewood Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue. Hybrid Zoom access will also be available for residents who wish to participate remotely.
The property in question, 308–316 South Broad Street (Block 3905, Lot 19), was once a playground but was sold to the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County and developed into four affordable housing units. The sale did not receive the required approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Green Acres Program and the violation was discovered in 2011.
To resolve the issue, Ridgewood proposes:
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Replacement parkland at two sites:
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Block 5005, Lot 5 on Hammond Road (currently vacant)
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A portion of Block 2605, Lots 2 and 3, known as Marlborough Road (a “paper street” right-of-way)
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Upgrades to Kings Pond Park, including a new playground, benches, and a pavilion for recreation programs, social events, and shelter from extreme weather.
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A payment to the Garden State Preservation Trust to support preservation efforts.
Residents are encouraged to attend in person or via Zoom to share their thoughts. Written comments will also be accepted until September 23, 2025. Comments can be emailed to hmailander@ridgewoodnj.net (Village Clerk Heather Mailander) and copied to publiclandcompliance@dep.nj.gov.
Zoom Access Information:
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Link: Join Here
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Webinar ID: 825 9279 9142
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Passcode: 07450
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Phone Access: 1-646-558-8656 or 1-646-931-3860
This hearing represents an important opportunity for Ridgewood residents to voice their opinions on parkland preservation, recreation upgrades, and the community’s future open space.
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A park and playground were removed from a historically black neighborhood and replaced with open space and a playground in areas that virtually no one lives in. What a sham. And to make matters worse, we understand the Village was offered a suitable replacement property in the black neighborhood from which the playground and park were removed. Someone at Village Hall needs to do some explaining, fast.
RHS Back to School Night.