As a concerned parent and resident of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, I am deeply worried about the safety of our children who play in the athletic fields known as North Field which borders the open interstate highway. My son, his friends, and hundreds of other HoHoKus, Saddle River, Ridgewood and other local towns’ kids regularly participate in athletic activities on these fields. Currently, there is no physical barrier between these fields and Route 17 South from Sheridan Avenue to Hollywood Avenue.

The absence of this barrier not only exposes our children to potential danger from vehicles veering off the road but also subjects them to high levels of noise pollution. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prolonged exposure to noise above 70 decibels can cause adverse health effects - including stress, sleep disturbances, heart disease, and impaired learning in children.

The NJ statewide sound level standards are 50 decibels during nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and 65 decibels during daytime, which applies to sources of noise specified in N.J.A.C. Currently our residential area exceeds this level and levels have reached 68 decibels in a meter reading. 

This situation calls for immediate action. We propose erecting a noise barrier wall along this stretch of Route 17 South as an effective solution that would both protect our children's safety and reduce noise pollution levels significantly.

A physical barrier will provide peace-of-mind knowing that our kids are safe while playing their favorite sports or participating in school activities on these fields. Furthermore, it will contribute towards creating a quieter environment conducive for residential living as well as outdoor recreational activities.

Another added benefit of this barrier is keeping possible intruders away. There was an incident Winter 2022 where a criminal attempting to burglarize parked their car on Route 17 and came through residents yards before being stopped by the police on Ackermam Ave. A wall would prevent out of state travelers gaining easy access to the residential neighborhood. There are 100K cars per day that drive on Route 17. Route 17 is an interstate highway. 

We urge our local authorities in HoHoKus to facilitate change in conjunction with New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), to prioritize this issue by taking swift action towards constructing this much-needed noise barrier wall along Route 17 South from Sheridan Avenue to Hollywood Avenue traveling southwards through Hohokus.

Please sign this petition if you believe that every child deserves a safe place to play free from unnecessary risks or harmful environmental factors such as excessive noise pollution.