$35M Estimated Cost For Ridge HS Track, Other Facility Repairs

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Ridge High School track will soon need to be replaced among other facility repairs that could bring a price tag totaling more than $35 million.

Board of Education(BOE) member and Finance Committee Chair Kirsten Light shared a report by Bureau Veritas at the May 20 BOE meeting from the finance committee's recent meeting where they received the facility condition assessment.

"Bureau Veritas conducted a facilities condition assessment and that the estimated resources needed for repairs and upkeep for the long range facilities plan is in excess of $35 million," said Light to Patch.

Light noted that the Director of Facilities is reviewing the report but made one observation.

"One of the more immediate items that the Director of Facilities noted was that the base of the varsity track will need to be replaced within the near term," said Light.

Once the review is complete, Business Administrator James Rollo will be looking at the three- to five-year projected cost in order to calibrate the capitol reserve strategy and update the long-range facility plan, said Light.

The track is home to the high school's Cross Country, Winter and Spring Track & Field. The track team has amassed a laundry list of awards including in January the boys Ridge Track and Field team won the Somerset County Relay Championship for the 5th year in a row, in January the Ridge Boys Track And Field won the Skyland Conference Championship, in February the Ridge Girls Track Captures North II Group 4 Sectional Title, in March the Ridge Track & Field was named All-American At New Balance Indoor Nationals, in May the Ridge Boys captured the Somerset County Title and made school history.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the cost of the track repair. The $35 million figure was related to many different projects in a Long Range Facility Plan and not just the cost of replacing the track at Ridge High School.

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