Residents, council debate artificial turf, heat and chemical risks for Ridgewood playing fields

Cynthia O'Keefe, a Ridgewood resident, told the council she was “fighting against” a plan she said would “cut down hundreds of trees and put artificial turf next to private wells,” and urged officials to reconsider turf installations near the Schedler property.

The discussion matters because residents raised safety concerns about turf during the recent heat wave and questioned whether state agencies and village policy give adequate protection. Council members and staff described the village’s reliance on state guidance and existing protocols for canceling activities during extreme heat.

At the public-workshop meeting, several residents expanded on those concerns. Catherine Schmidt, a member of the SID feasibility study team, said she endorses public engagement on the subject and…