Updated: Fields Closed After Flood; District's Cleanup Costs Not Yet Known

Heavy rains and subsequent flooding on Saturday proves to be an eerie that dropped a . Water was receding by early morning Sunday, leaving games canceled and muck, puckered turf, water, fish and debris at the newly-turfed high school sports fields and other village fields. The district does not yet know the cost of cleanup while a village official said work will be done in-house to clear its fields, without overtime costs.

The flood gauge maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers details the considerable flooding in Ridgewood's '100-year flood plain' from this weekend–the brook's flood level of 3 feet exceeded 4.8 feet within roughly three hours before receding early Sunday morning. For a sense of perspective, it's slightly greater than the level of flooding on March 11, where six-plus inches of rain and melted snow stormed the flood plain.

The turf fields were treated with chemicals due to concerns over sewage water flowing from the Waldwick-stationed wastewater treatment plant last go around (contamination levels were fine, however). Neighbors of the high school fields complained of the cost, $21,800 to taxpayers, and questioned the wisdom of laying down expensive turf in a flood plain.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein said on Monday that the fields are currently closed, users of the fields have been notified and signs will be posted. He did not know when the fields would be reopened but the district has already begun cleaning the fields of large debris, he reported.

When directly asked if he was concerned the turf could be eroding, as evidenced by large 'wrinkles' being present (see accompanying photos), Fishbein did not respond but stated he was told by a vilage official that "that these two storms are the 5[th] and 6th largest" to hit the village since the 1950s.

One neighbor, Tom Kossoff, and said that while the turfing brings benefits, the district should have been 'more forthcoming' with what he said will be continual costs to taxpayers due to flooding.

Other residents by contrast said the fact that the fields were up and running so quickly was evidence it was a solid investment. A representative of the manufacturer wrote to the district that Field Turf "can withstand these types of events."

The district has a maintenance budget to cover the cost of fields, but said three floods in a year would mean it would have to move money around to cover costs or appeal to the county to dip into its surplus.

The turf's manufacturer also said previously that the and remarked that softness of the field would return as fields dried and maintenance be done. Assistant Superintendent of Business Angelo DeSimone reported last month that he believed the turf would weigh it down and it would not be an ongoing issue.

Village Director of Parks & Recreation, Tim Cronin, said most of Veterans Field is playable with the exception of the small diamond. Maple Field is closed until the village can sweep the facility, he said. "It will be an in-house project" he said of potential costs, noting there will be no overtime as it will be worked on during work days this week.

Layers of silt coated considerable sections of the fields on Sunday, as other portions remained under water entirely.

Stadium Field had a considerable amount of water on the track and sections of the turf. Large wrinkles were seen on the turf. Stevens Field appeared swamp-like in some sections, with the nearby footbridge covered in debris and swallowed by water. Plantings were ravaged as well. Grass at Veterans Field, particularly on the small diamond by Warren Place, also took heavy flood waters from the brook. Maple Field too had flood damage and ducks could be seen swimming on the field.

The parking lots for Village Hall and the library, as well as the surrounding Graydon lots, took high water. Village officials were seen moving vehicles onto higher ground on Maple Avenue Saturday night, witnesses told Patch. Assistant Village Engineer Jovan Mehandzic said one non-Village owned vehicle in the Village Hall lot was damaged, as water rose to the level of the door handles.

Village Hall itself, he said, had water reach the door but he reported no damage inside. "Village crews will be busy cleaning streets, parking lots and fields," he said.

Various roads–like North Irving–were closed in the village Saturday night as several inches of rain pattered down throughout Saturday and into early Sunday morning. Bergen County Police said Sunday morning that flooding closed off Rt. 17 in both directions to one lane on Saturday night due to flooding around Linwood Avenue. The northbound side reportedly backed up several miles.

Ridgewood Fire Department Captain Steven Maffei said the department responded to 16 calls on Saturday night into Sunday morning, eight of which were water-related.

A tree also came down in the area around Hempstead Road, and some power lines were downed, he said. Maffei reported the department finished working at around 3:00 a.m. Sunday.

Make sure to see the gallery and videos taken by Lucy Rieger.