Flooding continues to plague Ridgewood High School fields, nearby residents
The field, used by hundreds of students, has been out of service since floodwaters spilled over the banks of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and covered the turf several weeks ago. School officials hope the field will be back in use next week.
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Repairs are underway on a Ridgewood High School athletic field after flooding from a nearby brook left it unusable.
The field, used by hundreds of students, has been out of service since floodwaters spilled over the banks of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and covered the turf several weeks ago. School officials hope the field will be back in use next week.
"The rainwater causes a lot of stormwater to come down, and it will sometimes come up and over the banks and onto the field," said Ridgewood Public Schools Superintendent Mark Schwarz. "Over time, the silt deposits into the turf and it becomes too hard to pass the testing for the students for safety."
The flooding issue is a familiar one for Ridgewood High School. Two of the school's major athletic fields sit on opposite sides of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, making them especially vulnerable during periods of heavy rain. Both were flooded in the recent storm.
However, the problem extends beyond school property.
"We see the water coming up a few feet, and then it gets into the basement," said Ridgewood resident Barbara Sacks. "It's a big problem."
School officials said they are trying to work with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in search of a long-term solution. One proposal under discussion would involve installing a moat or similar flood-control measure around the field.
"That would only redirect the water on our property, but it would still ultimately go to the same place, and wouldn't change things for our neighbors downstream," said Schwarz.
Some residents told News 12 they believe the installation of artificial turf fields may have contributed to increased runoff. However, residents and school officials alike acknowledge that recent years have brought heavier rainfall and more stormwater than existing infrastructure can easily handle.
"It filled up right into our grass yesterday," said Ridgewood resident Susan Shreiber. "It's a constant struggle."
For now, crews continue working to restore the athletic field as the community looks for a permanent answer to a recurring flooding problem.
