Community Corner
Ridgewood Finally Moves Ahead With Schedler Park Plan
The plan includes a multi-purpose sports field, playground, more parking spaces, and restoring the circa-1800 house by John Zabriskie.
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — After years of debate and study, the Village Council has finally moved ahead with plans to improve the Schedler Park property.
The council approved a plan Wednesday to construct a multi-use athletic field, playground, a walking trail, bathrooms, and 44 more parking spaces to the tract of land near Saddle River Road and Route 17.
The athletic field will be 75 by 50 and could be used for soccer, lacrosse, and kickball games.
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"When you look at the property today and what is going there tomorrow, it is going to be a tremendous benefit to the community," said Mayor Ramon Hache. "More than 1,000 kids in the neighborhood will benefit from the plan."
A fence will be placed around the property for safety. The bathrooms will be designed with six-foot overhang so people could use the building for shelter during inclement weather.
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Hache said that part of the project could cost between $800,000 and $900,000.
Part of the plan also involves restoring a 19th-century house on a triangular patch of land between Route 17 and Saddle River Road. It was built in 1823 by John A. L. Zabriskie. It is one of the last remaining 19th century Dutch wood-frame homes in Bergen County.
Hache said the village is speaking with a historic architect about what needs to be done to the house. Hache hopes the village can get a grant from the county to help pay for the project.
Restoring the house could cost between $300,000 and $400,000, Hache said.
The village bought the land and the home in 2009. A plan was discussed to redevelop the property so it could serve local sports groups like the Ridgewood Baseball & Softball Association, but local neighbors fought against those plans.
The Village Council rescinded a resolution in 2017 that would have redeveloped the property and created the 12-member Schedler Ad Hoc Committee to develop the now-approved plan for the property, Hache, Councilman Michael Sedon, and 10 other people served on it.
Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com
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