East Rutherford, NJ - The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has reportedly given Triple Five Developers water quality permits for the proposed American Dream amusement and water park project, which would be located in East Rutherford, New Jersey just off of Route 3. Earlier this summer, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission gave approval for the environmental plans set forth by the developers.

In order for the proposal to move forward from this point, federal permits still need to be obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers, while the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority have approved the proposal.

Triple Five has agreed to preserve the 128-acre swamp located on the western end of the sports complex, which consists of the Izod Center as well as a racetrack and MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and New York Giants of the National Football league. The Jets and Giants have filed lawsuits opposing the proposal, citing traffic issues as well as claiming that the developers never sought their consent for the project.

Local government officials have also expressed concerns about the expansion, which would consist of a Dreamworks Animation theme park, a water park, an ice skating rink, an indoor ski area, movie theaters, retail shopping stores, and multiple restaurants and dining venues. Officials claim that the expansion would further impact traffic, cause more water and air pollution as well as cause more flooding in an already flood-prone area.

The project, formerly known as the “Xanadu” project, will continue to move forward despite the opposition from local officials who say the money would be better fit for educational reasons, and police and firefighter funding. Stay tuned for further developments as the project moves progresses.