Ridgewood High School Field Closures: Home Games Canceled Due to Flood Damage
file photo Gmax Testing Services For Turf Fields
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Maroons Gavin McCrone threw for three touchdowns to lead Ridgewood to a 42-7 win over Montclair in Montclair for the opening game of the high school football season. But Friday night lights in Ridgewood are officially on hold. Ridgewood Public Schools has announced that both RHS Stadium and Stevens Field will remain closed for the entire fall season after failing critical GMAX safety testing.
GMAX tests evaluate surface shock absorption and overall field safety. Repeated flooding—a challenge tracing back to 1903 that has intensified with recent floodplain development—left behind heavy silt deposits that hardened over time, compromising the turf’s safety parameters.
Impact on RHS Sports and Homecoming Reunions
The closure leaves Ridgewood High School football and soccer teams without a home turf, forcing all home games and practices to move to alternate locations. The replacement cost for the affected fields is estimated at over $1 million.
The schedule change directly affects two major alumni events:
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September 25: Football game vs. Northern Highlands (Class of 1986 Reunion Weekend)
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October 9: Homecoming Game vs. Teaneck
School officials and alumni coordinators are actively monitoring location changes and will provide updates as new venues are finalized.
“When the flood waters come, they wash onto the fields, bringing debris and silt with them. Over time, the silt deposits and hardens,” explained Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz. “This news is incredibly disappointing for our whole community, especially for our students… but we cannot reopen until they perform within appropriate parameters for student safety.”
Community Meeting & Flood Mitigation Discussion
To address logistics, field restoration plans, and long-term flood mitigation strategies, Dr. Schwarz will host a virtual community forum 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: Virtual / Remote Meeting
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Access: Join via the official district link for the Virtual Superintendent Coffee.
Village Manager Keith Kazmark noted that local leadership is collaborating closely with school district officials to support student-athletes and manage facility coordination throughout the season.
Primary Keywords: Ridgewood High School football, RHS Stadium closure, Ridgewood NJ flooding, RHS Stevens Field, GMAX safety testing, Ridgewood High School athletics
Secondary Keywords: Ridgewood Homecoming 2026, Dr. Mark Schwarz, Keith Kazmark, Bergen County high school sports, turf field flood damage
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i wonder how many previous floods caused the absorption rate to fail that they never tested for?????
Really poor leadership here from the administration. The athletes and band are getting screwed. and the ripple effect through all town sports is immense.
The water has been washing up on that flood plain for millions of years.
Why don’t they raise the field?
Move it 30 yards to the east, make bigger bleachers on the west side next to the stream.
You can’t fight Mother Nature, unless you have a lot of money you don’t mind washing away.
It was the wrong decision to install artificial turf in a floodway. Any remediation will be short lived and another waste of money. If you truly care about the students then revert the fields to natural grass.