Flood damage results in no home sports games for Ridgewood HS this fall
Silt left behind on the field hardens and makes it unsafe for athletic use.
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Ridgewood High School fall sports teams will be playing exclusively road games this season. Flood damage has left two of its turf fields unsafe to play on.
Ho-Ho-Kus Brook makes a serene backyard for Ridgewood High School. It is also the space between two of the school’s athletic fields. After a summer of heavy flooding, the fields are too damaged to use for fall school sports.
“Field testing yielded that it is not meeting the protocols for shock absorption intended for contact play, where athletes might fall and hit their heads on the ground," said Ridgewood Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz.
Silt left behind on the field hardens and makes it unsafe for athletic use.
“That’s been like that for years," said Amy McCambridge, a former Ridgewood soccer coach. "I’ve been a trainer, and it’s like concrete. It’s so bad.”
In the meantime, the marching band is using the field. Football and soccer practice have been moved anywhere the district can find a field. Games won’t be the same without a home-field advantage.
“They have senior night, they have homecoming, it’s just so iconic," said Schwarz. "It’s such a place of pride.”
News 12 reported on similar flooding in the spring of 2024. The debate now includes a new patch of turf or natural grass.
“The reason turf was brought in the first place was because the prior fields were reduced to mud on a regular basis," said Schwarz.
“Every time I look at it, I see dollars going down the drain," said resident Sean Sweeney.
DEP will not allow any plan to alter the river’s flow. Another option discussed involves raising the fields and installing a catch basin beneath.
All of it comes at a cost, which the superintendent told News 12 remains unclear as quotes come in. The previous work in 2024 was estimated at $300,000.
“You can’t beat mother nature," said resident Bill Pilla. "So, if you guys keep doing this and keep going to the same spot, we will keep spending the money.”
