Save Ritzer Field

Our community greenspace is at risk! 

The South Orange / Maplewood Board of Education is asking for $4.5 million to replace three acres of Columbia high school’s grass field with plastic artificial turf. This decision has been made by a vocal few, with little to no effort to inform or consult with the thousands of high school students, or the immediate neighborhood who will be most affected by this permanent decision. Please sign this petition (and better, email the Board of School Estimate - emails below) to say you oppose replacing our grass field with artificial turf.

There are many reasons to oppose artificial turf, especially at Ritzer field. A few important concerns are listed below:

Health / Safety Concerns:
Plastic turf sheds toxic chemicals, including microplastics, PFAS, methane and other gasses into the air (and lungs), waterways (and our tap water). Athletic injuries are more frequent and more serious.

Environmental Concerns:
Installing the turf would entail total removal of a foot of soil, a living entity, to replace it with carcinogens and neurotoxins. It will likely also kill surrounding trees by intensifying heat and flooding.

Community Concerns:
Turning Ritzer into artificial turf will limit access to the diverse community of students and residents who visit the field every day. Artificial turf would eliminate outdoor lunch breaks because it is unsafe to sit and eat on plastic turf. Yet eating in nature boosts students’ learning and moods.

Today, the field is one of the few integrated social spaces on CHS campus. For some students, Ritzer field is the only greenspace they have access to during the day. Ritzer field is where students gather for fire drills - with a student body of about two thousand, students fill the field and several streets: turf fields are flammable! Where will students go during fire drills? Students will not be allowed on the field without cleats - what about those who do not own cleats?

This plan to remove our grass field clearly does not take into account the needs of the whole community. 

Ritzer’s greenspace is also enjoyed by surrounding neighborhood families and people of all generations and walks of life. Little kids learn to ride bikes here, the elderly go for walks, local amateurs play pick-up games of soccer, teenagers make clover chains. The field belongs to more than a few sports teams. It belongs to ALL of us. 

Climate Concerns:
The creation, installation and disposal of a 2 acre artificial turf field is estimated to generate over 55.6 tons of carbon dioxide, in addition to other greenhouse gasses and pollutants. The proposed plastic field behind our high school has expanded to be 3 acres, meaning the carbon emissions will creep closer to 83.4 tons of carbon dioxide. This does not even take into account the greenhouse gasses emitted as the field deteriorates. The lifespan of plastic turf is 10 years, after which the entire massive chemical concoction must be dug up, hauled away, disposed of – and replaced.

A Threat to Our Future:
10 years. What do we want the future of Maplewood and South Orange to look like in 10 years? Take into account our rapidly warming climate, and increased flooding and storms and the threats to physical and mental health that come with these changes. Artificial turf will exacerbate all of the worst effects of climate change, reaching temperatures far hotter than asphalt, causing heat stroke to high schoolers who already go to school in what is considered a heat island. Flooding will increase. Ritzer field is at the foot of a steep slope and on top of a buried stream. The field itself has never been built upon. Ritzer field has been quietly performing an important ecosystem service; absorbing water runoff and mitigating the worst effects of flooding. It functions as, and is designated by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection as a managed wetland. If we invest in this natural grass field, its water storage capabilities will increase!

Your opinion as a community member, a CHS student /alumni mater!

To really make a difference, email our representatives on the Board of School Estimate:

Nancy Adams (Maplewood mayor) nadams@maplewoodnj.gov
Jamaine Cripe jcripe@maplewoodnj.gov
Deborah Engel dengel@maplewoodnj.gov
Sheena Collum (South Orange mayor) scollum@southorange.org
Karen Hilton khilton@southorange.org
Bobby Brown bbrown@southorange.org
Kevin Gilbert (Acting Superintendent, Board of Ed) kgilbert@somsd.k12.nj.us
Qawi Telesford (BOE President) qtelesfo@somsd.k12.nj.us
Arun Vadlamani (BOE 1st VP) avadlama@somsd.k12.nj.us

Thank you so much for your help and perspective!