Residents press council on artificial turf risks, urge fuller review of studies

Several residents used the public-comment period at the July 2 Ridgewood Village Council meeting to press elected officials for more scrutiny of plans to install artificial turf on borough fields, saying some scientific sources cited in favor of turf do not address modern turf materials and that heat and chemical risks merit further evaluation.

"Frank, you mentioned 13 websites with different studies, and you said that was the basis that you used to, come to the conclusion that turf, in your opinion, is safe," Ridgewood resident Cynthia O'Keefe said, adding that "of the 13, 3 had nothing to do with artificial turf" and pointing the council to EPA, CDC and NJDEP material she said was more cautious.

Why it matters: Residents argued that public-safety, environmental and equity concerns should be resolved before approving major field conversions. Speakers cited possible lead release from weathered fields, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) detection in some tests, turf-surface heat hazards and microplastic fallout. The council’s response clarified that crumb-rubber infill — the subject of many older studies — is not an option under current borough plans and that permitted field use is governed by heat guidelines distributed to organizers.

What residents said: Amy McCambridge, a registered resident calling in for the meeting, criticized council presentations referencing federal agencies and said those agencies have not declared turf "safe." "If you're using those agencies to support your position, you're either uninformed or misleading the community," McCambridge said. She also said surface temperatures on turf can reach "140 to 170 degrees" and asked where closures, warnings and shaded cool-down areas would be placed.

Anna Grossman, calling from Montclair, described an experiment she said she conducted during a 97-degree day in which an egg "fully cooked" on a piece of turf she left in the sun, and she reported a strong odor from a nearby field after hot rain. "Most artificial turf is made with PFAS," she said.

Council response and staff clarifications: Village Manager Keith said crumb-rubber infill is not part of present plans and that the borough’s existing Maple Field does not contain crumb rubber. He said the borough follows NJSIAA heat guidelines and communicates those protocols to registered trainers and organizations that use village fields. "All the trainers that are registered with their proper insurance... have that communication," he said, adding the borough will close fields on days when conditions exceed the established thresholds.

What the meeting did not decide: No ordinance, contract award or formal policy change on turf was voted at this meeting. Council members and staff repeatedly noted further review, vendor discussions and historic-preservation processes remain in the project timeline. Several residents said they would continue to submit scientific literature and asked the council to require more explicit vendor guarantees and field-surface testing for lead, PFAS and heat.

Community context: The debate reflects a broader national and state-level discussion about synthetic turf, including NJDEP and federal agency studies that residents and staff cited in different ways. Council members requested not to conflate crumb rubber research with other turf products and asked that future presentations distinguish infill types and surface-heat measurements from older studies.

Ending note: The council closed public comment and deferred policy or procurement decisions to future agenda items; residents said they will continue to press for harsher testing requirements and clearer vendor guarantees before any field conversions proceed.