A clash between history and modern recreation is playing out in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Plans to install a synthetic turf sports field at the historic Zabriskie-Schedler property have been temporarily denied by the state's Historic Sites Council. Preservationists argue the project threatens the site's character and environment, while youth sports advocates say new fields are desperately needed. The dispute now moves to state officials for review.
Published on Aug 28, 2025 - 19:17 GMT
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. - A plan to build a new artificial turf sports field next to a Revolutionary War-era property in Bergen County has hit a roadblock after the New Jersey Historic Sites Council issued a temporary denial.
On Thursday, the council voted 6-0 to withhold its recommendation that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approve Ridgewood's proposal to install a multipurpose turf field at the Zabriskie-Schedler property. The council cited multiple deficiencies in the village's application, including a lack of detail on alternative sites, environmental impacts, and plans for preserving the historic home on the site.
The ruling followed a lengthy two-part public hearing where more than 100 residents weighed in. The debate has split the community between parents calling for more athletic space and preservationists concerned about history and ecology.
Resident Kristina Milian pointed to groups such as the Sierra Club, the Bergen County Historical Society, and the River Keeper Network, all of which oppose the plan.
"Exactly how many credible organizations have to be wrong for Ridgewood to be right- she asked. "This is not a minimal change. It is a wholesale transformation of the property into a large artificial turf field with fencing, bathrooms, and infrastructure that is completely out of character with the Schedler house."
Critics also raised concerns about damage to the property's old-growth trees, including a prominent historic Sugar Maple, and the disruption of an area that sits just a few hundred yards from the Old Paramus Reformed Church, a Revolutionary War battle site.
On the other side, Scott Muller, president of the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association, said the town's youth leagues - with more than 1,700 participants - are desperate for playable fields. Other fields in Ridgewood frequently flood, he said, making the Schedler site an essential option. "The property was bought in 2009 for the sole purpose of developing a park with an active baseball diamond and multi-purpose athletic field," Muller explained.
The council did not permanently block the project. Instead, it called for Ridgewood to:
Village Manager Keith Kazmark said Ridgewood is willing to adjust, including moving the field farther from the house and planting additional trees as a buffer. The DEP commissioner, Shawn M. LaTourette, will now review the resolution. If approved, Ridgewood will have 60 days to revise its application.
This article summarizes reporting originally published by www.msn.com
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