Neighbors Criticize District's Turf Cleanup, Suspect Turf is Irreparably Damaged

A week after , neighbors of the high school charge that portions of the new turf fields remain damaged and will continue to deteriorate in the flood plain as storms stretch silt, mud and debris on parcels of land neighbors say .

Neighbors say this will become a larger cost to taxpayers over the course of years but the district disagrees on both fronts.

Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein reported that Stadium Field has been treated (but not Stevens, which will require a special machine to sweep up silt) and $14,400 has already been spent on cleaning heavy debris and silt from Stevens and RHS Stadium. The total cost to cleanup both fields is $21,800, to be carried out by Dakota Excavating Company.

Fishbein said that the cleaning is still an expense the district would have had were there grass.

"We need to remember this is still an outside field. Leaves are going to fall on it, things will decay and fall apart. The turf will retain dirt and even some silt. It's designed to take that," he said.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Angelo DeSimone reported that the district has to wait until the fields have completely dried (the various layers of the turf) to fully sweep and clean the fields, but they are playable, something some residents said would have been a fantasy under the grass fields, which some residents coined a mud bowl.

But Tom Kossoff, whose home on Heermance abutts Stevens Field, said he has major reservations. As a close neighbor who runs on the field, he said "it feels different" and suspects dirt and mud have formed below the top surface, altering the integrity of the surface.

Kossoff also said that Stadium Field's turf "is buckling," a statement DeSimone disagreed with. "The weight of the turf will pull it down," he said in response.

Kossoff said things will only get worse.

"I really do believe that silt and dirt and mud is going beneath the padding of the turf and into the drainage. I do predict you'll have to pick up certain sections of the fields."

"You're going to have problems in a year or two. Whatever the money is . . . The turfs are going to deteriorate," he said.

"I truly don't believe they will ever be as good as when I first ran on them."

Kossoff said ultimately, his opinion, the board's opinion, Dakota and Disko's (the engineering firm) opinion is not relevant. He wanted one group and only one group, the manufacturer of the turf, Field Turf, to speak out. "It's their reputation on the line," Kossoff said, adding the company doesn't warranty against flooding.

Fishbein said he spoke to a senior representative at Field Turf who said via e-mail that the product 'can withstand these events' and the company stands by its product. Laurie Goodman agreed with Kossoff that it would be beneficial to have the manufacturer analyze the fields and take questions from the public.

In terms of future costs, DeSimone admitted the district would not be able to withstand three major flooding events without moving money around its operating budget or asking the county approval to take it out of the district's surplus.

"My recommendation is to take it out of the operating budget and as when we get further in the year and see if we're in trouble, then go to the county board for approval," DeSimone said.

"This is the same as it would be for any emergency," Fishbein added.

DeSimone is recommending that twice a year, a company would sweep the field and get whatever loose debris off as a routine maintenance cost. One company has quoted $7,500 and he's awaiting the other bid.

Unlike the Ridgewood High School neighbors, others applauded the district's turfing of the fields and said clearly it's been a boon to Ridgewood.

Brian Abdoo, a member at large on the Fields Committee, said these fields "provide a spectacular place not only for our high school athletes but our youth athletes to play on safer conditions" than the old Maple Field and the 'mudbowl' of Stevens.

Instead of the old Ridgewood tradition announcing "all the Fields in Ridgewood are closed today" due to inclement weather, "it's 'all fields in Ridgewood are closed today – except for Maple, Stevens and Stadium,'" Abdoo said.

He said he walked the fields on Sunday and said one can't help but notice "the three turf fields are in much better shape than Vets is" and concluded his remarks by asking residents with questions to see for themselves.

"Go out and walk the turf fields, then walk Vets field and come to your own conclusion – which fields would you rather have your kids play on today?"