file photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood parcel needs to be preserved
The town in which I live, Ridgewood, owns a 7.5-acre parcel known as the Schedler property in the northeast corridor directly abutting Route 17.
It represents the last large piece of green acres in Ridgewood. Schedler serves as a buffer for the community, defending us from the noise of the highway and the pollution. The town is determined, with the insistence of the Ridgewood Baseball Association, to build a regulation-sized baseball field there. So what’s wrong with that? The answer is everything.
For one thing, the location. It has been shown that increasing levels of noise are associated with increasing incidence of strokes, especially in the elderly. Playing fields also facilitate flooding whereas woods act as a deterrent.
Second, it is very well documented that exercising along busy highways increases one’s chances of developing respiratory disease, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. This problem is particularly worse in children, who have a more susceptible physiology. Recently, News 12 reported a new medical study that showed increased incidence of leukemia in children under the age of 15 who played in proximity to busy thoroughfares.
Lastly, in a time of constrained fiscal budgets, it would cost a lot less to leave nature alone. A field for our children would be great, but can’t it be built in a place that does not jeopardize their health?
Decisions that affect the health and well-being of our citizens, especially our children, should be guided by the facts. Not every piece of land needs to be developed; on the contrary, nature needs to be preserved.
We should take a page from the book of Theodore Roosevelt, who in his great wisdom, when entrusted with the stewardship of our great beautiful land, decided to conserve portions in their natural state for his time and posterity.
We, the citizens, must demand that our government behave just as responsibly.
Salvatore Infantino
If you want to preserve the Schedler property then scrape together the funds to buy it.
Then you can leave it as is.
What the town NEVER would have done was buy the property for the sole reason of leaving it as is.
I assume Route 17 was there when you bought your properties?
Anyone west or east of route 17 knows the benefits of Trees and distance from those trucks Air braking southbound around the HO Ho Kud southbound curve of route 17 South,KEEP THE TREES For the good of the Village And its inhabitants ..we can’t keep up the carpet bombing of our natural Barriers yes even aside Route 17 these folks are good citizens paying High Taxes with us All, let the kids learn to wait for the next field to be available as we all did in boomerville USA, RICH WOULD YOU WANT THIS BALL FIELD NEAR YOUR HOME..SIMPLY PUT NO
West Saddle River road is substandard and very narrow. All development must revolve around that fact. A smaller field, and moving the exit of the parking lot could be workable if well designed. But clear-cutting just to show you are moving forward is ridiculous!
make it a walking park, and dog walk, something like that.
A ball field in your neighborhood is American as apple pie!
Go and watch the games. Baseball is a great sport.
I lived next to a ball field for 12 years. I moved only because the school system in the town sucked.
The ball fields were fine.
A ball field sounds lovely. Ridgewood develops fields with turf and arranges for maximum usage. Lights and PA systems will be next.
There was a neighborhood field near my house growing up. It was great. We played all sorts of pick up games. By dinner time the field was empty.
Turn the house into a snack stand!
The land and the location is unique. One must come see the site before they can post an intellectually.
Environmental studies would aid in planning. Has Ridgewood hired out for professional studies?