KIYC: NJDEP blocks plan to build athletic field on contaminated Ridgewood property

After hearing hours of testimony, the New Jersey Historic Sites Council issued a preliminary ruling denying the village permission to install the athletic field.

Walt Kane

Aug 22, 2025, 2:45 AM

Updated 2 hr ago

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A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection committee is blocking a plan to build an athletic field on contaminated property in Ridgewood. The proposed field was the subject of a Kane In Your Corner investigation.
After hearing hours of testimony, the New Jersey Historic Sites Council issued a preliminary ruling denying the village permission to install the athletic field on property next to the historic Zabriskie Schedler House on West Saddle River Road.
The council said it denied the project for several reasons; among them, it said the village did not provide enough information about the possible environmental impact. The preliminary ruling will now be forwarded to the Department of Environmental Protection commissioner.
The Village of Ridgewood has been trying to install a sports field on the property for years, but the project has been plagued with problems. Earlier this year, village officials admitted they’d accidentally contaminated the site with lead and mercury six years ago, when they brought in soil from other construction sites.