SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
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Schedler plan is same as 2008 proposal
To the Editor:
As the community continues to debate the development of the Schedler property, it is important to recall the discussions that led to the village’s acquisition of the property.
In September 2008, former Councilman Pat Mancuso convened an ad hoc “Schedler Committee” of interested citizens, including residents of the adjacent West Saddle River Road neighborhood, which met on a weekly basis to discuss the urgency of preserving the property as open recreational space, potential sources of funding and the conceptual plan for the development of the property.
I was asked to present the Schedler Committee’s recommendations to the Village Council at the Council’s Oct. 22, 2008 meeting. In addition to recommending that the Village purchase the property as promptly as possible, I made the following statement:
“Although the members of the Schedler Committee believe that the primary objective at this time is the preservation of the property as open space, they have also discussed in detail and approved the conceptual plan for the improvement of the property that includes a baseball diamond, an overlay multi-purpose field, an ADA-compliant walking trail, a wooded area and a parking lot, and the potential sources of funding for those improvements. . . . Significantly, the representatives of the West Saddle River Road neighborhood association on the Schedler Committee have assured us that the neighbors support the conceptual plan, including the eventual installation of permanent lighting for the athletic fields, and will not ‘disappear down a manhole cover’ . . . as soon as the property is acquired.”
The conceptual plan discussed and approved by the Schedler Committee was substantially the same plan recently endorsed by the Village Council.
It is also worth noting that the intention at the time was to raze the Schedler house. In fact, as part of its grant application presentation, the village told the advisory committee of the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund that the village intended to tear the house down, and the committee’s only request was that the house be documented (i.e., photographed) before demolition.
Given this history, complaints of “east side” unfairness seem like a smokescreen to impede progress.
The plan for the development of the Schedler property has remained consistent since 2008. I believe it is in the best interests of the village to realize that plan now.
It is also in the interest of the Schedler neighborhood. In 2008, the neighbors’ primary concern was to save the property from high density residential or commercial development. Instead of that, the neighborhood will have a beautiful park with a playing field surrounded by trees and a walking path.
Ralph Currey
Ridgewood
The writer is the Chair of the Village of Ridgewood’s Open Space Committee.
Do we have the minutes from those meeting or is Ralph just following the party line ?
That’s correct…the infamous Master Plan that CaptainJack referred to…he and Fast Eddietook it to mean Manifest Destiny.
Don’t worry, turf is coming to a neighborhood near you.
Back in 2008 they asked RW girls track coach Jacob Brown if he wanted turf or grass on the infied for the new track being built at BFMS he opted for grass. He knew that if he said turf that Fast Eddie would have more soccer and lacrosse on the field than track. Jacob was no dummy.
Me thinks that Ralph is using Cannibis…
Facts are facts. I guess the truth hurts.
Millions for Da Turf.
Not a Penny for Residents Thoughts…
Much has happened since2008. Bottom line: an outdated committee report with none of the concerns addressed trumped the public.
Right Linda. These people always talk about progress and then bring out a 2008 outdate committee report
and yet the top managers say we have no money, well then ware is all the money going. what’s up.
Well 5:30 its going to Roberta’s new hires.
I loved reading that Tree Hugger Ellie wants to tear down trees at Pleasant Park. She knows it Green Acres.
The Washington Post recently had an article concerning the desperate need for wildscapes, not parks, wildscapes ,undeveloped land to preserve our ecology and life on earth.
Schedler should remain undeveloped.
Let it reamin undeveloped, please God, a lodestar for other towns about the need for preserving life on earth by being good stewards of the land.
By the way, some blister bellied parent talked about baseball and other sports becoming more competitive and the need for more playing space.
Well, there have been a plethora of articles on kids’ sports in the major newspapers including our one and only NYTimes. They all agree that too much practice leads to permanent bodily injuries in young bodies that are still developing. Yes, coach , let them work hard, but not harder. You coach, don’t give a flying fuck if your young charges collapse in college sports due to their strained bodies or in high school, or even permanentlyy inured in hgih school. All coaches and gym teachers teachng competivitive sports should be required to work for FREE, NO Pay
ay. work for the good of the young kids playing, not for your reputations acquired by ruining young lives.