Ridgewood Fields Committee Minutes

September 12, 2023 – 7:00 am 2^nd floor Conference Room, BOE Center/ ZOOM

Attendees: K. Cook, N. Bigos, M. Andreula, S. Winograd, S. Gross, H. Kwak, R. Brooks, E. Seavers, G. D’Andrea, E. Sudol,

Z. Pace, P. Thomas, M. Hefferan

I.                        Approval of Minutes – June 6, 2023

Approved by all

II.                        Public Comment

None

III.                        Fall Field Schedule

K. Cook-September 30^th is Super Soccer Saturday. In trying to keep change requests to a minimum at the HS level, only one time change request per group will be allowed.

E. Seavers-Last update to the Fall Schedule was July 31.

Z. Pace- Contacted by RSA made a field change RJFA will be playing on Maple and RSA will be taking Stadium Field for the unified clinic.

IV.                        Field Policy Revision Review

E. Seavers- Sent revision to Keith, Nancy and others. The email has completed revision with respect to the lights. Will send to the rest of the committee.

R. Brooks-The discussion of the field policy changes should be tabled until next month once everyone can look at the revisions and comment.

V.                        Master Library

G. D’Andrea-Will only be approving field/facility reservations until December. Many sports organizations have put reservations in through June. Schools would prefer that reservations be done in blocks of time so schools will be able to see what events they have planned before other groups reserve facilities. They will only be approving requests until December.

P. Thomas- No problem with waiting for approval for gym times.

K. Cook- He has never seen such a large increase in field/facility requests. The requests have started earlier than usual. Would like to reduce requests to no earlier than 90 days out. This will help with safety and maintenance of fields and facilities. Schools have priority over all other groups. The amount of time and paperwork processing these requests is overwhelming.

N. Bigos-Should we meet with sport groups and discuss how to input requests into the system, priority is BOE then sports groups, we need to instruct the public on how to use the software.

S. Winograd- Need to create a tutorial for users of Master Library.

E. Seavers-Lots of work for sports groups to input requests.

P. Thomas- Once you learn the system it works and it is easy and quick. The requests should be three months out.

S. Winograd- We will need to set up a small group to design the tutorial and help with understanding the reservation system, priority for use and seasonal time frame.

G.D’Andrea- Will set up a power point to explain how to use the system.

H. Kwak-Can priorities be set for types of groups?

K. Cook-Will see if that can be implemented, some kind of filter that can be added to the software.

H. Kwak-Do you think the pricing of the fields/facilities is causing the large amount of requests?

K. Cook- It has more to do with our location and large turnout for youth sports. E.Seavers-For internal sports groups they feel the fee is too high.

K. Cook- Issues with lights at Stevens and Stadium Fields, contact me and only me, to fix issues.

VI.                        Website Updates

N. Bigos-Village is redesigning the website and would like to add links directly to each sports group website. Hoping that the new site will be live by January 1.

S. Winograd- Requesting photos of Village Parkland, no specific people or minors. Will be having a photo contest. Asking that all groups look at websites and make sure all information is up to date.

VII.                        BOE Field Conditions

G. D’Andrea-Orchard Field Fall Season-No youth sports scheduled, field only being used for PE and one school event.

S. Gross-No desire to use the field it is so bad, worst field in the Village. Maroons Soccer has chosen to not schedule any games at Orchard.

S. Winograd-There is not a single sporting event this year scheduled on Orchard other than a school picnic.

Field Trip Findings

S. Winograd-Hawes field has been overutilized and looking to remove trees and repair field. Orchard field being out of circulation for so long has put additional stress on all other fields. Looking for a long-term plan for Orchard.

H. Kwak-I was unaware of why sports groups were not using Orchard.

R.  Brooks- Problems that were discussed and identified during the field trip. One was the pitch of the field that it slopes which was to be corrected with the original construction. Second, is the fill that was used was inferior, rocks, glass and no top soil. Discussed having the vendor return and redo the field if necessary.

S.  Winograd- Orchard is the most complained about field. Village needs this field to be usable.

H. Kwak- 700 thousand was spent to remediate the field it has been a year or two. DEP was satisfied. We can try to go back to the vendor but too much time has elapsed.

E. Seavers- Fall is the time that the repairs need to be done. If the field is to recover, it must grow in September and October nothing was done. Sports groups paid for a sprinkler system to be installed at that field, was it done? We were promised a better field. It took three years of no use by youth sports because we were told it was going to be fixed. Now the liability of the field is worse.

VIII.                        Fall Facility Maintenance Village

M. Andreula- Met with Keith to use Turf Tank for the Father’s Day Tournament. Village is still lining municipal field’s old style, soccer fields lined. All available light towers are out; we are short light towers for Veterans and Citizens Fields. In the past towers were rented by the Soccer Association. Lower Hawes-some remediation of goal areas have been seeded. First step, Broadleaf spraying of all fields on Monday, September 25, must wait a few weeks will then seed for our normal fall program. We are getting the ball fields in shape for fall.

E. Seavers- will share information about need for additional light towers.

BOE

K. Cook-We have had a significant amount of rain that has helped the grass fields. District purchased Turf Tank to line fields (Somerville, Brookside, BF) amazing, worth every penny. Game changer for field lining, uses GPS can customize the location of the sports field. Turf Tank can tell the amount of paint needed and the time it will take to complete lining of the field. Can line for all sports and differentiate line requirements for practice or game. Both Stevens and Stadium field were deep groomed at the end of August. Gmax testing was done. Once a month Aramark will have groomer out to keep the fields in good condition. Will remove old goals and equipment and dispose of them. Will keep fence lines clear.

H. Kwak- Has there been any extra attention paid to Orchard field.

K. Cook- Will contact Anthony and Artan to see what has been done at Orchard field.

IX.                        Broadleaf Application

M. Andreula- Monday, September 25 all Village fields will be closed.

X.                        Schedler Property

S. Winograd-Village applied for an additional piece of land just shy of an acre. We were unable to obtain the grant to so the Village will not purchase the property. No additional land will be added to the Schedler Property. Conceptual plan will be submitted to SHPO. Plan includes a full size regulation turf with baseball/softball field, planting 96 new shade trees, 21 pine trees, 182 green giant trees, passive walkway around the perimeter, playscape, lightening shelter and restrooms. House is close to being finished; still have no source of use for the house. We are actively looking to what can be placed there that will soften the burden on the taxpayer and will provide for general use. We spent the summer meeting with turf vendors of only ecofriendly types of turf. We do not have the authority to select turf, which is part of the plan that needs to be approved by SHPO. Will be meeting with additional vendor that uses organic fill. Tomorrow night the plan will be voted on.