the staff of the Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Public Schools sent out the following email update on the Ridgewood Public Schools Athletic Fields:
We understand that the statressing the e of our RHS Stadium and Stevens turf fields is of great concern to everyone. Although there has been much discussion and many requests for information relative to long- and short-term solutions, we want to share where we are currently, the imminent plans for cleaning and repair, and our contingency plans for the spring season.
The Athletic Department has acquired quotes for cleaning the various turf fields and is working to have all fields cleaned and ready for our spring sport season. At this time the district has met with three separate vendors, and we are waiting on quotes from two of the companies. All vendors estimated that the work necessary for the fields will take approximately two weeks to complete under ideal conditions. In addition, the vendors all strongly recommend that we wait until the end of the month/beginning of March before attempting to clean the field.
Although we would like to see the fields clean and in good working order now, the chance of additional rainstorms, snow, or freezing and thawing of the turf is too great and could result in further damage and additional cleaning and repairs. For these reasons and more, the vendors advised us to wait until late February or early March to clean the fields.
However, even waiting until the March 14, 2024 date does not guarantee that March, April, or even May weather patterns will not once again affect our fields and playing areas. For this reason, we have looked into alternate playing spaces for our athletes.
Our Benjamin Franklin Middle School field is well used by our more than 250 track and field athletes. As a grass field with no netting and no lighting, and a non-regulation size, this is the best and most productive use of this field at this time. Sports that require lighting, nets, and more will not do well at BFMS. This field is also used for our soccer programs, so is used consistently throughout the year.
There has also been talk of the Superdome. Although this seems like a weather-resistant solution, the cost of the dome is quite prohibitive. Long-term use of this facility is simply not built into our budget.
To help ensure that all of our teams have fields on which to practice and play, we have already reached out to our local Recreation Program and 12 nearby towns, looking for opportunities within their schedules to use their fields if necessary. They have all been as accommodating as possible, but the use of these fields will depend on the days and weeks on which they are needed. We are grateful for these relationships that will help us ensure playing opportunities for our athletes.
In addition, we are speaking with our fields and maintenance crews here in Ridgewood to see what can be done to improve the quality and care of our grass fields. These conversations are ongoing and will continue.
Again, we understand the frustrations that our fields are causing all of us and the inconveniences that playing elsewhere can create. However, we are grateful for our athletes and their willingness to put the work in wherever and whenever needed. We continue to look to a long-term solution and hope for better weather ahead.
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Idiot Festival…
answers very little
Hope they are not using Vets field, it is covered with flood debris
Travell Field is hardly ever used for anything except pee-wee baseball.
It’s an idea spot for any team needing to practice.
The 3 or 4 large trees than were in the middle are long gone giving it a large open look.
Leave$ caught in a fence need an out$ide vendor to be removed?
A long term $olution would be to stop using outside“vendor$” who are charging ridiculou$ fee$ and u$e our unionized maintenance department. Unle$$ $pecial training is required to use a rake and leaf blower…
Thi$ i$ a direct byproduct of out$ourcing with $moke and mirrors to move money. “Vendor$” don’t care about $ports $chedules or the well-being of $tudent athlet$.
Couldn’t agree more. Vendors are lining up and drooling to make $$$.
because we are
RICH and STUPID
and they see us as a giant ATM machine
People who like turf are not happy with grass, people who want grass are not happy with turf. We know play can be extended on turf, but it is filled with dangerous chemicals and toxic materials. Even the eco brands. There will always be people who won’t be happy, but for years and years people played on grass, so not sure why this isn’t the solution unless the Village has a ton of flood insurance money or is “tied” to a turf vendor who wants to get their meaty chops on Ridgewood’s field budget.
Just cancel all sports and read a book.
Smoke and mirrors in the name of those who run/ruin the town
It’s not an artificial turf vs. natural grass fight. The concern is that now there is enough scientific data proving artificial turf contains a large number of chemicals, many of which are known to be hazardous to human health and the environment. The BOE would be liable if they installed another speck of turf.
Interesting that having outdoor space is supposed to be good for our health and yet, the hypocrisy of putting a plastic field down anywhere is horrible and totally contradictory. If people get sick somewhere down the line, what good did it do to have extended play outside. Think people.
It does a heck of a lot of good for the right people’s bank accounts, and in the end, isn’t that what’s really important?
It’s not an artificial turf vs. natural grass fight. The concern is that now there is enough scientific data that proves artificial turf is harmful and detrimental to humans the environment
unfortunately it still is. Vagianos talked about grass at the League of WV debate when he was runing and changed his tune when he needed votes from the sports people. Talk about a pivot.
and some of them donated to his campaign. It is a matter of public record, so you can look it up.
I just want my calendar for godsakes….I’m a simple man.
Get the kids parents out there to help clean up and reduce some of the cost.
Parents would love to fix but we re not allowed. Have asked repeatedly to mow, fix dirt etc. not allowed
We can’t afford garbage trucks buy we are going to pay to fix these fields again? Enough is enough. Stop this insanity. Take the plastic turf and toxic crumb rubber out already.
And $350,000 for a pavilion at Habernickel the smallest park in town?
We can’t understand there’s no snow, the weather is warm for February, and yet the parks and fields are a mess. What is going on?
And Bigios director of parks and rec is asking for $350,000 for a pavilion for her healthbarn buddy at Habernickel. Take care of what’s broken first and stop the favors for friends to make the big bucks!!!!
Just let natural grass grow, and if needed have volunteer parents clean up anything left over from climate change excess rain run off on the fields. That is the way it used to be for us old timers in Bergen County that have run travel sports leagues since the early 1950’s !!! Especially in Ridgewood, since the high school sits on the banks of a disaster waiting to happen every few months.
Turf causes more ACL and other type of injuries to anyone who plays on that type of surface. For the 2026 World Cup at the Met Life Stadium , the “turf” will be replaced or covered over by natural grass.
Yes turf looks pretty and towns can save maintenance dollars because the town doesn’t need to mow it but installing it causes more harm than good to humans and to the environment. This argument reminds me of the theory that spread in New Jersey in the mid 1970’s suggesting that busing primary school aged children to school should be eliminated because it would save town x some money. Well most NJ towns did away with the practice that my children enjoyed. The result is bumper to bumper traffic each and every school morning and afternoon that burdens hard working families, pollutes the environment with thousands of extra owner occupied vehicles on the road in Bergen County.
I’m sorry but you’re making way too much sense, so we’re just going to have to go ahead and do the opposite.
A big story on ch 12 today. The school is saying it will cost over 300 grand to repair the high school field.
Amazing.
Another shitshow. If they replace the turf they will have no one to blame but the idiots who are making these decisions. The field is in a known flood zone, this is happening way too often and turf doesn’t drain properly. Plus all of the PFAS goes into the groundwater and Ho-Ho-kus brook by the way, so the downstream effect is a concern. All of those fishies will have the toxic forever chemicals. WE keep making the same dumb decsions and wonder why we have issues. Smarten up, folks. Go for grass!
Please define “the statressing the e .”
Purchase a garbage truck instead and use it to haul off the astro turf.
Fields are too far gone to repair this time. Time to go back to natural grass.