>Is the BOE Kidding about “ample parking in the Ridgewood High School lot”
Ridgewood NJ- IS THE BOE KIDDING???…”There is ample parking in the Ridgewood High School lot to handle youth sporting events at the Stadium and Stevens fields, and youth sports parents and coaches will be advised to use this parking lot for drop off and parking. Youth sports groups in town, and visiting teams from other towns, will be instructed to inform their participants’ of the availability of parking at RHS (TENNIS COURTS) and at GRAYDON POOL and VETS FIELD.”
The BOE and RHS administrators were repeatedly told (during the planning stages and after the construction) that parking by the RHS tennis courts is NOT an appropriate solution for Stevens Field. Suggesting that people park at Graydon or Vets is even more preposterous.
The Graydon Pool lot is 2,100 feet (4/10ths of a mile) from Stevens Field. The Vets Field Lot is 1,580 feet (3/10ths of a mile) from Stevens Field. The RHS tennis court parking lot is 1100 feet (2/10ths of a mile) from Stevens Field. Even supporters of the field improvements agree! The BOE must create some parking facility at Stevens.
Spectators attending a game 3-4 times a season might not think this is inconvenient to walk these distances for a game. However, for 9-13 year old children and coaches carrying heavy bags and or/equipment 2 – 3 times a week (often at night), these are NOT viable suggestions. Options include using areas at the north or south end of the fields or along the right of way. The parking areas do not need to be paved and can be left as grass or gravel/dirt. There is no need for DEP approval or construction. Together, these areas could accommodate 80-90 cars. The BOE response to not properly address the parking issue is unacceptable.
