GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro city leaders are moving forward with new plans to clean up Bingham Park, which remains closed due to contaminated soil. The city will present two options to the council during its meeting on Oct. 22.
One option involves a cap-and-cover approach, while the other entails a full remediation of the area. Containing the site is significantly cheaper, estimated at around $12 million. Compare that to the more than $40 million it would cost to remove all the contaminated soil.
In April, the city had proposed three options. However, dumping the contaminated soil at the White Street landfill has been removed from consideration. The city said talks with concerned neighbors played a significant role in this decision.
“They gave significant impact and voiced their concerns that they didn’t feel like the property should be used at White Street for disposal," Kobe Riley, Greensboro Parks and Recreation deputy director, said. "We’ve heard that feedback and that is a direct result of our presentation on Tuesday was no longer considering White Street as a disposal location.”
The first option focuses on sealing in the contamination by placing a layer over the affected soil to prevent rain and wind from carrying toxins. The city would cover the contaminated soil with a layer of clay or even concrete. Some of the toxins identified in the park include lead, iron, and arsenic. The second option is a complete cleanup of both Bingham Park and Hampton Elementary School. If the city chooses this route, the removed contaminants would be transported to either the Great Oak landfill in Asheboro or the Uwharrie landfill in Troy.
“We’d be looking at full remediation using one of those other two landfills that, so that then both properties could be redeveloped without any limitations," said Phil Fleischman, Parks and Recreation director for the City of Greensboro. "So we would envision a 12-acre neighborhood park uh being placed at Bingham Park. And then Hampton School being prepared for some other type of development in the future.”
A full remediation of the site would enable the city to maximize the park's potential, unlike the cap and cover method, which would restrict future developments. Regardless of the chosen approach, the city assured residents that it would monitor air quality throughout the remediation process to ensure no contaminants spread.
“That plan is being prepared, there are components that are required to be included in the plan," said Richard Lovett, Office of Sustainability and Resilience Environmental Compliance and Support Manager. "They would include things like dust monitoring around the perimeter, dust monitoring on individuals that are potential of inhalation exposure.”
On Oct. 22, city council members may vote on one or choose to postpone the decision until the next meeting.
Stay connected to local, national, and breaking news: Download the WFMY News 2 app.
►Text the word APP to 336-379-5775
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Subscribe to our daily newsletter, Let’s Get 2 It!
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or search for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.