People in one Bergen County town told CBS New York investigative reporter Tim McNicholas they’re fighting it aggressively.
There are similar concerns and battles brewing right now in Westfield and Scotch Plains, but it’s only in one town, Ridgewood, where an artificial turf field is being considered on a historic property.
The signs lining West Saddle River Road tell two very different stories. One from the village boasts of a beautiful new park in the works with a sports field. But the neighbors who posted “develop, don’t destroy” signs on their front lawns see it differently.
“I think it’s horrendous what the council has been proposing to do,” Ridgewood resident Susan Ruane said.
“It’s not an appropriate place to put an artificial turf field,” Cynthia O’Keefe added.
The village is considering building the ballfield alongside a 19th century home listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. But the residents instead want a smaller grass field to be built on the unused space.
“I’m completely against turf. Everything I read just makes it seem like it’s very dangerous,” Ridgewood Councilwoman Lorraine Reynolds said.
Parents and athletes across the country have questioned the safety of artificial turf, ranging from concerns over whether the turf can cause more athlete injuries, to whether the rubber crumbs in the turf can create health hazards when ingested.
