Schedler field - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on June 7, 2024 June 6, 2024

The Battle Against PFAS in Montclair: A Community’s Call for Action

35 very concerned residents of Montclair

In a concerning parallel to Ridgewood’s proposed Schedler field, Montclair is also grappling with fears of PFAS contamination from artificial turf. The Montclair Board of Education (BOE) and School District claim that the turf they’re installing is PFAS-free, relying on a 2019 test provided by their contractor. However, a 2023 test proves otherwise, and even the manufacturer admits the presence of PFAS. Despite this, the BOE has been unresponsive for eight months and has now taken delivery of the artificial turf containing PFAS. To add to the frustration, their lawyers issued a statement suggesting, “nothing to see here.”

Continue reading The Battle Against PFAS in Montclair: A Community’s Call for Action

Posted on December 27, 2017 December 27, 2017

Schedler Ad Hoc Committee Pitches a Well thought Out Compromise for Ridgewood

December 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, new vision for Schedler Field is a grand compromise . Like many of you we immediately thought here we go again. However the Schedler ad hoc committee attempted to balance historical preservation, sports , passive parks , the neighborhood , traffic and the environmental impact.

First a little back ground :

Zabriskie–Schedler House is one of the last remaining 1820’s Dutch wood frame houses in Bergen County

In 2003, Ridgewood Open Space Committee submitted plan identifying Schedler property as a “first-priority” target for acquisition by Ridgewood

In 2007, Village was informed that family would be selling Schedler property

In 2008, Open Space Committee provided Council with report recommending that “the initial development [of Schedler property] consist of a parking lot, a baseball diamond and overlay multipurpose field (without lights or restrooms), with the remainder of property left as passive recreation space with wooded areas and a disabled-accessible (ADA compliant), senior-friendly paved walking path around the perimeter”

In 2008, Open Space Committee urged Village to acquire Schedler property, warning that “if the property is acquired by a private developer, the Village will face the possibility of a ‘builder remedy’ suit forcing the Village to accept high-density multi-family residential development of the property including affordable housing units”

In 2009, Village purchased Schedler property for $2.7 million with grants from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund

In 2013, Village purchased Shotmeyer property, a .358 acre parcel of land that was surrounded by the Schedler property, for approximately $90,000.

In 2015, Council passed resolution adopting Open Space Committee’s recommendation for passive and active park that included playground, walking path, 90 ft. baseball diamond, and a 120 x 75 yd. multi-purpose field. Resolution also provided road map for stabilization and possible restoration of Schedler house

In 2017, the Council rescinded 2015 resolution, deciding instead to re-analyze the proposed plan for Schedler, and appointed this Ad Hoc Committee to propose a development plan.

In the end they came up with a very scaled down sports field with no baseball diamond , some parking , removal of dead and or dangerous trees , an eye on preservation and enriched passive park options with respect to the neighbors and neighborhood.

It appears to be a nice balance between the neighborhood, sports and historical preservation and recreation.

see the committee presentation :

https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/news/1677-schedler-ad-hoc-committee-presentation-to-village-council

Posted on January 26, 2016 January 26, 2016

Outline of Proposed Terms for the Development of the Schedler Property in Ridgewood

Save Our Schedler Members & Friends at the Schedler House

file photo by Boyd Loving

The attached terms posted are a proposal by the residents living in the vicinity of the Schedler property. These terms are a result of many meetings and discussions among the Schedler neighbors over the last 6 weeks. We have worked hard as a group to prepare this document which we believe considers the needs not just of the Schedler neighbors, but of the entire Ridgewood community. The terms demonstrate a park that we envision will significantly reduce the amount of trees to be removed, decrease the cost of the development and maintenance required of the proposed larger field and draw our fellow Ridgewood residents to visit and enjoy the east side of the Village. Charlie Nowinski

Outline of Proposed Terms for the Development of the Schedler Property

In order to provide the Village with much needed passive park and recreational space, the field shall be no larger than 60’.

Any design will include a sound wall to block out the sound of the highway for the entire length of the property. In addition, to a sound wall near the highway, the park will include a berm on West Saddle River Road to block off the sound and view of the park. The berm shall include several rows of regularly maintained evergreens in order to provide the neighborhood with a “green shield”.

All demolition, including removal of trees (downed, diseased or otherwise) will not occur until completion of a development plan and budget approved by the Village Council. Demolition shall occur in conjunction with the overall project in order to avoid a gap between demolition and construction.

The plan and design of the park will be developed by an independent civil engineer and landscape architect specializing in park design with input from representatives of the neighborhood and the Village.

The development plan and budget will be based off of independent, comprehensive studies which would include:

Addressing the issues already identified by environmental and wildlife impact studies

The noise study to be conducted on the property and the surrounding area

A third party traffic and safety study on West Saddle River Road and the surrounding side streets as recommended by the council committee. The traffic and safety study will include a determination of an adequate parking lot, as well as a review of potential ingress and egress into the parking lot from Rt. 17. In addition, the traffic and safety study will include a determination of appropriate parking restrictions on West Saddle River Road and, if practical, the surrounding streets off West Saddle River Road

Prohibition on the inclusion of (1) lights, both permanent and portable as required by the conservation easement, (2) a public address announcement system and (3) a concession stand.

The hours of the park will be from dawn to dusk.

Installation of police monitoring system to monitor any criminal activity.

Preserve the Schedler house by moving forward with registering the house with the historical society. The house will be used to benefit the entire community by, for example, providing meeting space for different community groups and providing restrooms for the park participants.

Posted on December 20, 2015 December 20, 2015

Reader says Videos BIG eye opener for Schedler development

file photo by Boyd Loving

The video evidence is a BIG eye opener, ear opening exposure of the unsafe location for a kids sports ball field to exist. A big strong crash resistant wall would have to be built along that stretch of route 17, and the responsible parties pushing for this ball field location should pay for that wall. A sound barrier wall would not be strong enough. How could anyone think of putting kids in potential harms way so closely adjacent to busy death highway route 17 heavily traveled by tracter trailer trucks? Are they out of their minds? One big accident lawsuit waiting in the wings. It would be like a ball park adjacent to an airport runway. I agree its not only dumb, its downright irresponsible!

Why Making The Schedler Property in Ridgewood Into A Ball field Is Dumb https://youtu.be/pIm_0V8mkYY

Charlie Nowinski at Ridgewood Village Hall – December 9, 2015 https://youtu.be/H6ezGJa9elU

Posted on December 14, 2015 December 14, 2015

Schedler property in Ridgewood : Any solutions should benefit entire village

DECEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Any solutions should benefit entire village

To the Editor:

The “Officials face open space shortage” article on the Schedler property (The Ridgewood News, Dec. 4, page A1), exposes the perennial “zero sum” thinking that plagues village politics. It concludes: “…an unpopular decision in the eyes of one [or the other] group of people will have to be made.” The absence of a community-wide vision for our village perpetuates endless acrimonious interpersonal and intergroup relationships. Rather than focusing on special interest groups’ differences, we need a holistic approach that compares our community to surrounding ones, to North Jersey, and to our nation as a whole.

The obvious characteristics of our town are stark and too often ignored: 1) As this article states, we have the largest school system in Bergen County; 2) Ridgewood is one of the wealthiest communities in New Jersey with the one of the highest tax burdens; 3) We are universally [yes, the Internet] seen as a schooling magnet community so families move here; and 4) We have zero public policies designed to retain empty nesters, zero availability of over-55 housing, and zero assisted living facilities in the Central Business District.

We may want to believe we are “Lake Wobegon … where the men are strong, the women good-looking, and that all our children are above average,” but our denial of aging results in social engineering that ignores life stages and destroys a multigenerational family community.

Saying Ridgewood is exclusively a nuclear family-child raising community, lacks both a historical perspective and a desire to imagine the future. Well into the 1930s, smaller New England towns practiced “home relief” where aging homeowners unable to support themselves in retirement were maintained at the town’s expense, and when they died the sale of their homes reimbursed the town’s costs. Into the 21st century, Ridgewood is a powerful draw for upper middle class families from world cultures in which multigenerational families are the norm. Furthermore, a slower growth economy means all of our children will carry elder care obligations which are outside the range of what Social Security or Medicare can provide.

The Open Space worries reported here pale in the face of wider community concerns. Where 2,000 youths get to play baseball in a community of 25,000 is a valid special interest concern. Saving a complete forest as a barrier between a quiet neighborhood and Route 17 is also a valid special interest concern.

In reality, all the wooded areas closer to residential properties could be preserved while limited commercial development could take place preserving older growth trees. Taking up opportunities for commercial development that bring down taxes for all residents and help reverse the “aged cleansing” social engineering practice that characterize our town is the right thing to do for the majority of Ridgewood families. This is what leadership in a democracy should be all about.

Martin Walker

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-any-solutions-should-benefit-entire-village-1.1472086

Posted on December 12, 2015 December 12, 2015

Ridgewood Schedler neighborhood asks for additional experts

Save Our Schedler Members & Friends at the Schedler House3

file photo by Boyd Loving

Neighbors ask for additional experts

DECEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print

Neighbors request more experts for best possible park

To the Editor:

Your reporter concludes in his article on Dec. 4 (“Officials face open space shortage,” The Ridgewood News, page A1) that one group or another will be unhappy by the council’s ultimate decisions regarding the development of the Schedler property. As a Schedler neighbor, I respectfully disagree with the conclusion.

The Schedler neighborhood is seeking the best possible design and development of the Schedler property for the benefit of all Ridgewood citizens. Specifically, the Schedler neighborhood has asked the council to hire an expert landscape architect to design the best park possible for all citizens. The current design was prepared by our village engineer, who has limited experience designing parks.

The Schedler neighborhood has also requested the hiring of a traffic safety engineer to design a safe park for the benefit of the players, their families and the neighborhood. The Schedler property is next to Route 17, where over half a million cars travel daily. Let’s be safe and hire the proper experts.

Finally, all of those cars are noisy. Players need to communicate with each other, with their coaches and with the officials. Spectators also want to converse in a comfortable environment.

The Schedler neighborhood has asked the village to hire a noise expert in order to recommend appropriate noise abatement strategies. We want to avoid spending several million dollars on a park, only to discover that it’s too noisy and unsafe.

A reputable dentist is perfect for a toothache, but you wouldn’t call him if you were experiencing chest pains. The Schedler neighborhood advocates hiring genuine experts in order to obtain the best possible park for all Ridgewood citizens. That’s a win for the players, a win for their families, a win for the neighborhood, and a win for all citizens of Ridgewood.

David Edelberg

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-neighbors-ask-for-additional-experts-1.1472220

Posted on November 30, 2015 December 1, 2015

Friends of Schedler Launches Facebook Group

file photo by Boyd Loving

November 30 ,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, It’s taken a little while to get the Friends of Schedler facebook page started but it’s ready.

You are all invited to come take a look, join and better understand where This neighborhood is, what situations the local neighbors are facing and what situations the kids would be facing if a field were built here. Come see the exposure to Rt 17 and the close proximity the children would be playing to that busy highway.

“Our mission: To promote the responsible development of the Schedler parcel, the last open space in Ridgewood, with consideration of the environment, neighborhood, and town.”

Posted on November 25, 2015 November 25, 2015

Ridgewood youth baseball playing with shortage of fields

Zabriskie-Schedler_Property_theridgewoodblog

NOVEMBER 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2015, 11:45 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

(This article is the second of an ongoing series examining the Schedler property and the issues surrounding it.)

In the springtime, a common sound heard around the village’s parks is the distinct metallic “ping” of an aluminum bat making solid contact with a baseball.

With a robust baseball program, Ridgewood is home to many ball fields at its numerous parks scattered all around town, but the need for one specific size field has become entangled with one of the village’s most sensitive issues.

The Ridgewood News has already explored the concerns held by residents in the neighborhood that plays home to the historic Zabriskie-Schedler house and property, where a full-size 90-foot baseball field has been proposed.

However, it may be the last place remaining to install such a field, driving the Ridgewood Baseball Softball Association (RBSA) to donate money to the village as part of a matching grant opportunity from Bergen County that would allow the proposed Phase One portion of the project, which consists of a cleanup in the woodlands on West Saddle River Road, to begin.

While there has always been a need for more fields in Ridgewood, the completion of the state-of-the-art track and field complex at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in 2011 put a tremendous strain on the resources available to the RBSA, said President Jim Albano.

Previously, that field was home to one of the village’s two “60-90” fields – a diamond consisting of 90-foot basepaths and a pitcher’s mound that sits 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. BF was also home to a smaller, multi-purpose field with a dirt infield.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/leagues-playing-with-field-shortage-in-ridgewood-1.1461690

Posted on November 20, 2015 November 20, 2015

Reader says It’s all about updating the fields for soccer and lacrosse.

It’s all about updating the fields for soccer and lacrosse. We already have three (3) 60×90 fields.

https://sitebuilder.capturepoint.com/RBSA#/page/486

Take a look at the RBSA website. There are only eight (8) Rec (Bonvarlet Senior and Junior) teams in town. Most of the Senior games this year were forfeited due to not having enough players.

As the demographic changes, the trending for the last 8+ years shows that baseball and softball particpation is way down. This past year there were only 5 travel teams that needed 60×90 fields. They usually play 2x week with one maybe two home games per week.

Those three fields are more than adequate for covering home field assignments.

So we’re left with conclusion. The Rec Comm wants to upgrade their facilities and showcase soccer and lacrosse.

The idea that they lost a field when BF was converted to a track facility is rubbish. They were desperate to get turf at the HS and play on Ridgewood Avenue and in front of the HS building. You can’t have your cake and eat it too…

Posted on November 10, 2015 November 10, 2015

Reader asks Why would RBSA want to take on fundraising to develop an entire park instead of a cheaper renovation to an existing and approved space?

For those suggesting the town should sell it (Schedler Park), as a neighbor, I wouldn’t be horrified. The neighborhood would have many more legal protections from a private developer that the Village doesn’t need to comply with. Chiefly, ingress/egress from Rt. 17 and noise reduction.

It was bought with open space money from the County, not just the Village, and is supposed to guarantee a balance of active and passive space. Secondary to the pay-to-play development, it looks like only a baseball field will be built, and 74 parking spots. All this for the 2nd 90′ field the mayor says he ‘promised’ RBSA to make up for the field lost at BF. That field was already promised to RBSA at lower Hawes, courtesy of the CMX report which the Village paid 80K dollars for. The mayor knows this because he questioned the involved parties directly when that plan was adopted. The facts are in the minutes and speak for themselves.

Why doesn’t RBSA want that field? Why haven’t they done anything to advance that plan since 2008? Why haven’t they made the already approved improvements to Somerville’s field also approved in 2008? Why wouldn’t the Village encourage them to develop park space adjacent to an elementary school where more of the Village could benefit from it? Why would RBSA want to take on fundraising to develop an entire park instead of a cheaper renovation to an existing and approved space? Upon OPRA request, there is no documentation of any reason why the fields can’t be exactly where they were already ‘promised.’

Posted on November 9, 2015 June 27, 2021

Save Our Schedler Members & Friends at the Schedler House

photos by Boyd Loving

November 8,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, News 12 showed up at Schedler but Sadly the News12 report where residents spoke was removed. It was replaced with Mayor’s statement, which happens to be untrue. Property bought with $2million of taxpayers money was promised to a baseball group without public notification. The Historic house is owned by the Village. Mr. Mayor: why does the public have to save a house owned by the Village? Destruction by abandonment? The roof needs repairs, you’ve ignored it 7 years ago. Transparency: Tell the whole story! The facts would tell a very different tale

Schedler Site Development Study – 460 W. Saddle River Road

Below are the Site Development Plans prepared by the Ridgewood Engineering Department.

Click Here for Part 1A

Click Here for part 2B

Click Here for Part 3 C, D, E

Schedler Park
Below are the Site Development Plans prepared by the Ridgewood Engineering Department.

Click Here for Part 1A

Click Here for part 2B

Click Here for Part 3 C, D, E

Maps – Revisions

Schedler Map Rev 8 – October 7, 2015

Info

Click Here for the Schedler Park and House Grant Timeline – as reported by the Village Manager at the September 16, 2015 Village Council Public Meeting.

Wednesday, August 12th the Village Council discussed the use of the Schedler property. They voted on the following resolutions:

Click Here for Schedler Property Resolution including House

Click Here for Resolution to apply for Schedler House Grant

Posted on October 29, 2015 October 29, 2015

Bergen County Open Space official : numerous discrepancies and missing information related to the Schedler grant application

Dear Village Council:

As I stated during the public comment period at the end of the October 14 council meeting, the process for completing grant applications leaves much to be desired. I particularly noted the casual ease with which the checkbox indicating that the Ridgewood population at large desires whatever is being applied for is checked. This happened with the grant for the Graydon wheelchair ramp, which after two full seasons, as I predicted for the three years in which I fought it, has never been used for its intended purpose. It was also done in the grant to level Schedler.

Let’s put it this way. We know what three of you have been doing and it is unlawful and unacceptable.

Today I learned that Bergen County Open Space official Robert Abbatomarco had written to Village employees noting numerous discrepancies and missing information related to the Schedler grant application. The county considers the October 14, 2015, public hearing on the grant application to be the only official meeting of record regarding the development of Schedler. Once again the Council has “put the cart before the horse” and proceeded as a few insistent people wished before inviting public comment in the proper way.

The county now demands a new resolution that incorporates and represents the public comments made on October 14. Reports and public comments from 2012 and earlier shall not apply. We all know what happened on October 14. I got home from that meeting at 2:45 AM. (In the future, for everyone’s sake, it would be most helpful for topics of wide general interest to be given discrete meetings and not be crammed into general meeting agendas. Trying to exhaust people into not speaking obviously does not work.)

An honest summary of the comments made that night would reveal without question that the neighbors of Schedler and many of their fellow Village residents living elsewhere in town are adamantly opposed to a 90-foot field and other issues, such as clear-cutting the trees that are their only defense against the noise, traffic, and pollution of nearby Route 17.

It is clear from the county’s notification that the pending council resolution was passed in violation of Open Space guidelines and must be revoked and revisited. I hope that will happen tonight, to clear your names.

Inexplicably and unforgivably, although the county’s notification was sent to the Village last month, Village staff clearly ignored it and proceeded to present resolutions and schematic drawings in spite of it. The public was shamefully disinformed. All staff members involved should be reprimanded and ideally terminated.

Please revoke Resolution 15-257 this evening and START OVER.

Sincerely,

Marcia Ringel

Posted on September 21, 2015 September 21, 2015

Reader accuses Ridgewood sports groups of destroying the environment

Yeah, cut down the trees for the sports folks. And you know what, you sports folks, don;’t deserve any more rain. And you might not get any.

You have cut so many trees down and replaced God’s grass with artificial turf that you sports folks have destroyed the climate. and the environment.

So just be damn happy in your stupid brains, because none of your games will ever again be canceled on account of rain.

Posted on September 20, 2015 June 27, 2021

Schedler Field Ridgewood , Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask

Schedler Park and House Grant Timeline

Click Here for the Schedler Park and House Grant Timeline – as reported by the Village Manager at the September 16, 2015 Village Council Public Meeting.

Application to Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund – 2015 Municipal Program

At the September 9, 2015 Village Council there was discussion about the grant application submitted to Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund for the Schedler Park Property – Phase 1.

Click Here Application

Schedler Property Resolutions – August 12 Village Council Public Meeting

Wednesday, August 12th the Village Council discussed the use of the Schedler property. They voted on the following resolutions:

Click Here for Schedler Property Resolution including House

Click Here for Resolution to apply fpr Schedler House Grant

Click Here for Conceptual Map of the park project. The existing structure (460 W. Saddle River Road) is identified by standard architecture/engineering markings. The electrical wire to the house is included. The garage is not identified on this drawing.