Unruly Teens, Vandalism Force Ridgewood To Close School Fields

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Large gatherings of teenagers on Ridgewood Public Schools property have led to "minor confrontations and vandalism," and forced the district to close all school property on Fridays and Saturdays, Superintendent Thomas Gorman announced.

The district has hired a security company to patrol the grounds on Friday and Saturday evenings, when all public schools property will be closed from 6 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. through June 26, the district said.

Should there be large gatherings on school property during these times, police will be notified, Gorman said.

A NorthJersey.com reports that multiple law enforcement agencies were called to Ridgewood High School on Saturday where a group of teenagers was gathered. Then, on Sunday, police found vandalism that included graffiti and overturned portable toilets around 2:45 a.m. There was also a fight over the weekend, according to the publication.

The district developed the plan in concert with the Ridgewood Police Department, according to the district, and believes they should be effective in stopping these large gatherings.

"We believe these measures will help control the situation," wrote Gorman. "We will be closely monitoring this issue with the police and will make adjustments to the plan as necessary."

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