Ridgewood School District Closes Stadium and Stevens Fields for Fall Season Following Failed Safety Testing
RHS Field 1903 photo, other photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In a major update for the Ridgewood community, Ridgewood Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz announced that Stadium Field and Stevens Field will remain closed for the upcoming fall athletics season.
The decision follows severe flooding throughout July and August, which impacted the athletic grounds and triggered mandatory safety evaluations.
Why Were the Fields Closed?
Following the summer flood events, district officials initiated gmax impact testing on both grounds to evaluate shock absorption levels and ensure student athlete safety.
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Initial Testing & Remediation: Certain areas of the fields failed initial shock absorption thresholds. The district performed targeted remediation treatments, after which internal testing yielded passing scores.
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Third-Party Verification: To guarantee student safety, the district ordered an independent third-party assessment before reopening.
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Final Results: The independent testing failed to confirm that the fields were safe for athletic use.
Consequently, district administration declared Stadium Field and Stevens Field unplayable for the fall season and has begun securing alternative locations for upcoming sports and community events.
“This news is incredibly disappointing for our whole community, especially for our students,” stated Dr. Mark Schwarz. “We will spare no effort or resources to restore our fields, but we cannot reopen until they perform within appropriate parameters for student safety.”
Special Virtual Superintendent Coffee: September 1, 2026
To address community concerns and discuss long-term flood mitigation plans, Dr. Schwarz will host a special remote meeting for parents, students, and residents.
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Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
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Time: 7:00 PM EDT
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Format: Remote / Virtual Meeting
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Meeting Link: Join the Virtual Superintendent Coffee
What Will Be Discussed?
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Restoration Measures: Updates on steps being taken to restore the fields for future athletic use.
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Alternate Locations: Info on relocated fall field events and game schedules.
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Five-Year Flood Data: A detailed review of lessons learned from analyzing local flood events over the past five years.
For community members unable to attend the live Zoom broadcast, a recording will be published by the district following the event.
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Tags Ridgewood NJ Ridgewood Public Schools Bergen County Local News High School Sports Community Updates Public Safety
Virtual coffee? It is time to connect with people in person again. I understand why virtual meetings can be convenient, but how about every other meeting, or meetings of great importance should be held in person?