Flash Floods Hit Just Days Into Ridgewood High’s $98K Field Restoration Project Began

Flash Floods Threaten Ridgewood High School’s $98K Turf Field Remediation as Fall Sports Hang in the Balance

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Heavy rain and flash flooding on Sunday, September 13, have raised fresh concerns for the Ridgewood High School athletic program—just days after the district launched a 10-day remediation project to save the 2026 fall sports season.

The ongoing cycle of heavy rainfall along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook has continually impacted the high school’s sports fields. On August 27, district officials announced that both Stadium Field and Stevens Field had failed GMAX stress impact safety tests, forcing an immediate and indefinite closure right as classes resumed.

Why Did Ridgewood’s Artificial Turf Fields Fail Safety Tests?

When the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook overflows, floodwaters carry fine silt and mud onto Stadium Field and Stevens Field.

As the water recedes, the silt settles deep into the synthetic carpet infill and bakes into a concrete-like density. This compaction strips away the field’s shock absorption, causing it to fail standard GMAX impact tests designed to protect student-athletes from concussions and injuries.

Inside the $98K Remediation Project

Following a formal announcement on September 4, FieldTurf began active remediation work on Stadium Field on September 8.

Key details of the restoration include:

• Procurement & Pricing: The district contracted FieldTurf using a Bergen County co-op agreement, securing pre-approved pricing to start repairs without administrative delays.

• Project Cost: Schools Superintendent Mark Schwarz confirmed the total cost for the Stadium Field remediation is $98,380, with a substantial portion covered by district insurance.

• Restoration Process: FieldTurf crews are stripping out contaminated blended infill, decompacting and brushing the synthetic turf fibers, and re-topping the field with a rubber-only infill to restore proper shock absorption.

Neighborhood Impact: Silt Dust Cloud Alerts

The intensity of the dry silt removal process temporarily impacted nearby residents. On September 9 and 10, school officials advised neighbors living adjacent to the school to keep their windows closed due to massive dust clouds generated while brushing dry silt out of the synthetic turf carpet.

High Weather Risks to Field Reopening

The September 13 rainstorm highlights the primary risk facing the project: weather dependency.

FieldTurf’s remediation relies heavily on dry conditions. Heavy rain or floodwaters overflowing from the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook during or immediately following restoration threaten to deposit fresh silt into the newly brushed infill. A repeat flood would invalidate upcoming GMAX safety re-testing, prolonging field closures and leaving student-athletes without a home field for the 2026 fall season.

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