Safety Shock Failure & Flood History: Ridgewood Public Schools Indefinitely Closes Two High School Turf Fields

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Just days before the start of the new school year, Ridgewood Public Schools announced the indefinite closure of two major High School athletic fields after independent third-party testing revealed they failed critical safety standards.

The closure of Stadium Field and Stevens Field impacts fall sports programs, forcing district officials to find alternative venues for upcoming football and soccer games and disrupting scheduled home events.

Failed GMAX Safety Tests Force Immediate Field Closures

Both Stadium Field and Stevens Field failed standard GMAX testing, which measures a surface’s shock absorption and player impact mitigation.

When artificial turf deteriorates, its shock absorption drops significantly, dramatically increasing the risk of concussions, joint injuries, and severe impact trauma for student-athletes. Because the turf failed to meet minimum safety thresholds, district officials suspended all activities on both fields indefinitely for the fall season.

A History of Flooding & Structural Damage

The current safety failure comes after years of ongoing environmental and maintenance challenges:

• Floodplain Location: Both fields sit directly in a designated floodplain along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook.

• Persistent Water Damage: In 2023, 2024, and 2025, the fields experienced repeated closures due to heavy flooding from severe rainstorms, racking up an estimated $50,380 in storm damage.

• Replacement Controversy: Originally installed in 2011, the artificial turf was voted for replacement by the Board of Education in 2019 despite known flood risks. Because synthetic turf acts as an impermeable plastic barrier, it cannot absorb water during heavy rain events, exacerbating surface damage and runoff.

Extreme Heat Risks & Call for Natural Grass

Beyond shock absorption and flooding, synthetic turf presents significant heat hazards for student-athletes. Research shows that artificial turf surfaces can run 20°F to 70°F hotter than natural grass, contributing to micro-heat islands on school grounds.

This drastic temperature surge heightens the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke—with studies showing football players are 11 times more likely to suffer heat illness on synthetic fields compared to natural grass.

With rising safety concerns, ongoing maintenance costs, and chronic flooding issues, community advocates and parents are calling on the Superintendent and the Ridgewood Board of Education to transition away from synthetic turf and invest in safer, more sustainable natural grass fields.

Tags: #RidgewoodNJ #RidgewoodPublicSchools #HighSchoolSports #StudentSafety #TurfVsGrass #BergenCounty #MaroonsAthletics #RidgewoodHighSchool