The 17-Year Battle Over Ridgewood’s Most Controversial Park is Finally Nearing the Finish Line
photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, For nearly two decades, the fate of the Zabriskie-Schedler property has been one of the most hotly debated topics in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Purchased by the Village back in 2009 with the vision of transforming it into a community park and athletic field, the project has faced a relentless onslaught of legal, environmental, and bureaucratic hurdles.
However, a major breakthrough suggests that the long journey might finally be nearing its end.
NJDEP Greenlights the Zabriskie-Schedler Project
In a major milestone for the Village Council, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) officially approved the construction plans for the park and athletic field. This approval marks the clearing of one of the largest regulatory roadblocks the project has faced to date.
Before the first shovel can hit the ground for actual construction, one final, critical phase must wrap up: soil remediation.
Addressing the “Toxic Soil” Concerns
The site’s history has long sparked intense local debate, specifically regarding soil contamination and its proximity to Route 17. The Village is currently in the final stretches of the required environmental cleanup. According to recent updates from the Village Council, this soil remediation work is anticipated to be fully complete within the next few weeks.
What Happens Next? Bidding and Construction Timelines
Once the dirt is officially cleared and the NJDEP conducts its final review of the remediation results, Ridgewood will move immediately into the procurement phase.
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Finalizing Plans: Engineering and design blueprints are being locked in right now.
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Going to Bid: The Village will open up public bidding for the first phase of park construction as soon as final approvals land.
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Breaking Ground: Local officials are optimistic that if the bidding process goes smoothly, preliminary construction on the park can officially begin by the end of this year.
While the debate over synthetic plastic ball fields, environmental safety, and traffic impact is unlikely to disappear overnight, the structural momentum behind the Zabriskie-Schedler park is now moving faster than ever before.
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Wow, 17 years! NIMBYism at its finest.
Another mayor and council can move forward on the next step, which is the health and well-being of the ones that were directly involved with handling the material.