GREENSBORO, N.C. — East Greensboro's Historical Bingham Park is officially closed to the public.
The City of Greensboro said new guidance from the EPA deems the park unsafe due to contaminated soil.
The park was built on a former waste incinerator and an unlined landfill that operated in the 1920s and 1950s.
It borders English and Market Street between McConnell roads. If you pass by the park, you will see signs posted saying:
- No wading in the creek
- No drinking the water
- No digging or disturbing the dirt
- No motorized vehicles on the property
Recent testing by new state standards found high concentrations of lead, iron, and dangerous contaminants in the dirt.
The City of Greensboro warns that no one should use the park, even if it's just to take a simple walk.
Bingham Park is surrounded by a neighborhood and the creek sits in the backyard of a church.
The city said drinking water is safe for nearby residents.
"There are no houses or individuals using wells in that area," City of Greensboro Phil Fleischmann Parks and Recreation Director said, "Folks are on public drinking water, so there is no threat to the drinking water supply in that area."
The safety of Bingham Park has been questioned for decades. It was built before rules were put in place for construction on top of landfills.
The city estimates it has about 19 million dollars for remediation efforts. The next step is to dig up and remove the waste from the park.
"We are engaged in conversations with the community around waste disposal options. Where there is a permitted municipal solid waste landfill that is lined and regulated." Fleischmann said.
The city said it has identified three possible waste disposal areas in North Carolina.
To remove the debris, the city said it is collaborating with the state for a safe removal process.
"We will address all the potential pathways including groundwater, surface water, sediment, and even airborne." City of Greensboro Office of Sustainability and Resilience Environmental Compliance and Support Manager Richard Lovett said, "Once you start disturbing the soil we are going to be having on-site monitoring equipment to make sure we can address those concerns before they become an issue to the community."
One neighbor who lives near the park said the news is bittersweet.
"We have been fighting for the remediation of the park. We also wanted this to be shut down because for us it has been a dangerous place," Cheryl Johnson recalled, "It's a park that's contaminated but it's also disheartening because this is our park."
She has lived in the area for 12 years and serves her community through the Bingham Park Environmental Justice Project.
"We need a place for our families to go and thrive in," Johnson said.
The city said it plans to fence in the park next week.
A representative estimated it could take about five years for the park to fully be re-done.
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