newjerseynewsroom.com

Once upon a time, lions and elephants roamed this vast acreage, and as many as 500,000 visitors a year looked on in awe.

Now the only roar is the sound of the occasional motorcycle, and the only wild animals are the ones you'd expect to find in North Jersey, like deer and rabbits.

The former Warner Brothers Jungle Habitat theme park in West Milford has been mostly unused since the safari attraction closed in 1976, although some traces of the old park still remain. The 865 acres that made up the park are now owned by the state.

West Milford wants to create a recreational eco-park and tourist attraction on part of the acreage, but those plans are clashing with the state's need to preserve the site's wetlands and wildlife, NorthJersey.com reports.

The township originally wanted to lease 80 acres of the property, but because of the state's concerns, it's now looking for about 31 acres. The proposal calls for tearing up part of two existing parking lots to develop a ball field and use the grounds for concerts and other events, NorthJersey.com reports.

In 2007, the township held Fourth of July fireworks at the old theme park, but there is nothing listed for the holiday on this year's calendar of events.

— ANNE-MARIE COTTONE, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM