March 14,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village council has decided to take a look at using Ridgewood Open Space funds to restore and repair Maple Turf Field. The Council debated on funding to fix the field , the $600,000 of open space funds have been sitting for some time , and the Village manager pushed the idea of raiding the unused open space funds then bonding afterward. Councilmen Hache said there were some grant options and councilwomen Walsh focused on the shared responsibility to maintain the field.
The council will look to sports groups for regular maintenance funds and to enforce rules that extend the life of the fields.
While the Ridgewood blog and others warned about the fiscal dangers of installing a turf field in a flood plain , the fact is the field is there ,it can not be currently used in its present condition and the money is available . Sorry its a little late to cry over open space funds for turf fields and it would be better for the Village to deal with the reality we presently have than fantasizing about what could or would have been.
Once again this is a learning experience on how voters are stuck with the long term consequences of their actions. Like the high density housing the Turf Field is part of the Village and must be maintained as such and again you can not blame the present council for the mess that others created.
Why can’t they take it out and turn it into grass. I’ll tell you why Hache wants a turf field at Schedler, he said so at a council meeting a few months back when it was announced that he headed a committee that decided to develop Schedler. And they have the nerve to invoke Isabella Altona’s name and say she would have approved the development. NOT TRUE . I spoke with her and she said she would like Schedler to remain undeveloped, but was most concerned about saving the house.
600 K And the Roads are completely damaged and destroying our cars as we speak.
Towns a Joke.
in summary :
FIX ROADS First ..that’s what pays the outrageous Taxes here in RIDGEWOOD.Can the turf and the mega Garage fantasies . we won’t hold our breathe unless we are white knuckling a drive to Kings today,
But the current council could say no to artificial turf as a replacement. Where is the cost analysis to replacing the current field with the newer grass blends that are draught and pest resistant? What about cork and other vegetative infills? How about all the current research and information attesting to the negatives of crumb rubber in regards to health and safety of the players, environmental concerns and the high cost of maintenance and replacement. Not to mention that artificial turf is not made to be placed in an active flood plain which Maple Field is. A user fee should be attached to player registration fees that would be set aside for maintenance and field replacement to offset the high cost to the tax payers. Using open space funds for artificial turf seems such a contradiction of terms and ideas.
Yes I agree use that money to repave Roads.
That fake shit should’ve been put down. Waste of money, we spent $1 million they already another field is shot. Come on people wake up that field should’ve been elevated with topsoil and make some kind of real turf durable, we cannot keep on spending $1 million or we can years it’s just my financial feasible unless you have a big donator like Valley Hospital, and we burn that bridge . Do you think they’re going to donate more money forget about that that’s done. What’s going to happen when they stop donating for the Fourth of July and the fireworks whoops watch. Then you will see people cry
Valley was never a big donor
This field has already been redone so many times. Flood after flood. It’s such a waste!
I believe Valkey gave us a electronic scoring sign with their logo on it.
I thought the Open Space funds were earmarked for Schedler? And what about the PILOT revenues from Valley?
Does this Village Council feel that they can bear the responsibility of any cancers, etc that will eventually develop from the use of a literally “crummy” field? The dangers were not fully known when it was originally installed but now you can read any numbers of medical studies that prove it is a hazard. Besides being a hazard, IT IS NOT MEANT FOR A FLOOD PLAIN. Surely by now you can count the number of floodings. And the idea to tag a small amount to each registration to properly maintain the sports’ fields is an excellent idea. Also, using Green Acres funding for a definitely non-green purpose must be illegal. And, if it is, you know someone will file a suit against you.
the turf field has been there for 8 years now the current council is to blame ??
Oh how I wish they could sod-seed the field with actual grass. I guess the grass would be destroyed so quickly with all the games that are played on that field….
Does this council think the field causes cancer? If they think it does then yes, they are responsible for leaving it in place. Inaction does not provide absolution.
you mean like the former council??
We don’t know what the previous council did or didn’t believe on the subject and thankfully it no longer matters. You’re comfortable with this council believing that the field makes kids sick and is doing nothing about it?
the field was there for 8 years , the previous council , the 3 amigos and Roberta are directly responsible
Maple was FieldTurf- the subject of that giant investigative journalism story and hearings.. whatever came of that? https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2017/01/30/artificial-turf-not-faulty-maker-tells-senate-panel/97238208/
Uhhh, in 2010 the Mayor was Keith Killion, Deputy Mayor was Tom Riche, and Village Manager was Ken Grabbit. Get your facts straight, please.