For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
NJDEP Approves Toxic Turf Field for Ridgewood Historic Schedler Property
Just a week after the New Jersey Historic Sites Council unanimously voted to temporarily deny the artificial turf proposal for the historic Scheduler Property, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approved it. In its resolution, the Historic Sites Council said the village’s application failed to fully discuss alternative sites or explore the possibility of installing artificial turf somewhere else besides the Schedler property.
The current Zabriskie-Schedler Park Project plan put forward by the Village includes a full-sized artificial turf athletic field, walking and hiking trails, a modern playground made with engineered wood fibers, dugout benches, bleachers, and a parking lot.
Taylor McFarland, NJ Sierra Club Conservation and Program Manager, issued the following statement:
“We are disappointed in NJDEP’s decision to approve a multipurpose artificial turf field on the historic Schedler property. A toxic plastic carpet will only cause more environmental and public health impacts for Ridgewood. Dozens of residents and organizations called for a natural grass playing field. The NJDEP should have listened to the impacted residents of Ridgewood and required the village to invest in safer recreation options, like natural grass.
Any development on this site should be restricted due to the significant soil contamination. Ridgewood must focus on the effective remediation and restoration of the area to remove contamination completely. Once a complete remediation plan is completed and the NJDEP determines that there is no threat to the public, it would be appropriate to propose an active recreation plan that includes natural grass, rather than artificial turf.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey