You gotta be kidding me. Just as everyone was hyped for the start of another school year, Ridgewood Public Schools threw a total curveball, pulling the plug on *both* of their main high school athletic fields. I’m talking about Ridgewood High School Stadium and Stevens Field, completely shut down for the *rest of the fall season*. This isn’t some minor repair, folks. This is a full-blown safety crisis after independent testing found these fields completely failed to meet the crucial standards for player impact absorption. Imagine that, on the eve of the season, a devastating blow to every single athlete, coach, and family counting on those fields. It’s an absolute gut punch, plain and simple.
From “All Clear” to “Code Red”: What Went Wrong?
Here’s where it gets truly wild, and honestly, super frustrating. These very same fields, Ridgewood High School Stadium and Stevens Field, *passed* their GMAX shock absorption testing back in April. That was part of the regular, routine field inspections! Everything looked good, right? Fast forward to August 27, and an email from “Ridgewood Public Schools” drops, confirming that those fields absolutely flunked the latest GMAX re-tests. GMAX testing is critical, measuring how well a surface can absorb impact, which is literally the backbone of player safety. The official word was blunt: “Unfortunately, at this time both fields have failed GMAX testing, which measures a surface’s shock absorption and safety for play.” They’re not just closed for a week, or a month. They expect these fields to be completely offline for “at least the remainder of the fall season.” You’re kidding me, right? From passing with flying colors to a total F-grade in a few short months? How does that even happen?
And it’s not like they didn’t try to fix it. We’re told three different vendors were brought in for the GMAX tests. An earlier test had already red-flagged an issue specifically with Stevens Field, but then “two of the three vendor tests” later found *both* fields were failing the safety standards. They even went so far as to hire two industry companies to clean and assess the field conditions. They did “decompaction work” to try and deal with the silt buildup that had piled up over the spring and summer. You’d think that kind of effort would make a difference, right? Nope. The announcement stated it clearly: “Despite this work, the most recent round of GMAX testing shows that both fields still do not meet safety standards for play.” That’s a devastating blow, confirming that the efforts weren’t enough. So, Stadium Field and Stevens Field are now in lockdown “until further notice.” It’s a nightmare scenario.
More Than Just Tests: A History of Havoc
Let’s be real, this isn’t the first rodeo for these fields when it comes to problems. There’s a persistent issue with the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, which flows right through these fields, causing increased flooding that’s turned into a recurring nightmare. We’re talking fields shut down in September 2023, February 2024, and July 2025 because of water. That July 2025 rainstorm alone caused an estimated $50,380 in damage! Superintendent Mark Schwarz even highlighted that it’s not just the sheer volume of water, but also the “material in the water” that contributes to the field damage. Get this, the school district actually bought tarps to cover the fields and try to reduce flood damage, but then school officials reported those tarps were *so* effective they apparently ended up increasing flooding to nearby residential properties. And now, it’s even unclear if those tarps were actually in use this past summer. You can’t make this stuff up!
This closure is going to absolutely blow up the fall football and soccer schedules. Think about the kids, man. Athletic Director Keith Cook is now in full scramble mode, “actively working to schedule practices and games at alternate locations.” Coaches and teams are just waiting to get updated schedule and location info “as it becomes available.” There’s even a “special Superintendent Coffee” coming soon, presumably to try and soothe the community and “engage with us on this topic.” The district is on record saying, “We recognize how disruptive this is for teams, families, and coaches relying on these fields, especially with the fall season underway, and we appreciate the community’s continued patience and flexibility as we work through this process.” Patience and flexibility? When your entire fall sports season just went up in smoke because the fields aren’t safe? That’s a huge ask, but what choice do they have? It’s a tough situation for everyone in Ridgewood, and you just hope they figure it out quickly and safely.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply