Ridgewood High School Announces $98K Remediation Plan to Reopen Athletic Fields
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz has announced a comprehensive remediation plan to safely reopen the athletic fields at Ridgewood High School (RHS) following flood damage.
Remediation work on the RHS Stadium Field is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with the goal of restoring play for the fall season while prioritizing student-athlete safety.
Why Were the RHS Athletic Fields Closed?
The closure of Stadium and Stevens Fields stems from recent flood events where soil and silt deposits washed over the turf from an adjacent brook. These deposits caused field surface hardness to exceed safety standards during GMAX testing—a standard metric used to evaluate field surface shock absorption and player safety.
To fix the issue, specialized crews will:
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Remove a portion of the existing blended infill from the surface.
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Top-dress the turf with new, high-performance “rubber-only” infill.
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Conduct post-remediation GMAX testing before reopening the venue to athletes.
Costs, Timeline, and Alternate Practice Locations
The total cost for the Stadium Field restoration is $98,380.00, a substantial portion of which is expected to be covered by district insurance. The work is being executed by FieldTurf through the Bergen County Co-op Contract to streamline pre-approved pricing and eliminate scheduling delays.
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Project Duration: Up to 10 days (weather permitting), pending successful GMAX safety testing.
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Impact of Weather: Dry conditions are required for the infill process to work effectively; rain may extend the timeline.
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Marching Band Practice: Temporarily relocated to Stevens Field during the initial work.
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Football Practice: Continuing at Kenilworth and Maple Park.
If the restoration of Stadium Field succeeds and safety metrics are met, district officials plan to evaluate similar remediation work for Stevens Field.
Community Support and Future Planning
Dr. Schwarz expressed gratitude to local families, coaches, community advocates, Village officials, and neighboring school districts for supporting RHS athletics during the transition.
Long-term flood protection and field placement strategies remain a priority for the district. Community members interested in learning more can access recorded sessions from the recent Superintendent Coffee events discussing field maintenance history and future planning.
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There has been talk about raising the field to avert future flooding issues. But judging by the depth and breadth evident in this picture, I do not know how that would be possible.
Also, this problem has been around for decades. Back in the 1970s, I recall football games postponed or cancelled (Englewood or Dwight Morrow in 1972). That same year, the Hackensack game was played in torrential rain. Ridgewood lost by a point, costing them an undefeated season.
Veterans Field is in the flood plain as well. There is no easy long-term solution.