Tacoma Smelter Plume: Fall park cleanups wrap up

By John Zinza, Field Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program

Dockton Park, Vashon Island
Fencing will remain until the grass is established

Just in time for the rainy season, park soil cleanup work wrapped up last week.  We cleaned up over two acres of play area, removing 2,846 cubic yards of contaminated soil—enough to fill 150 truck loads!
Parks completed:

• Dottie Harper (Burien)
• McMicken Heights (SeaTac)
• Sunset Playfields (SeaTac)
• Lake Grove (Federal Way)
• Dockton (Vashon Island)

Getting to the "root" of the problem at Lakewood parks

During the start of cleanup activity at American Lake, we ran into tree roots after removing the sod. Trees can easily be harmed by moving the soil around their roots. We stopped work and capped the area we disturbed.  We are looking into capping the rest of the play area at American Lake, instead of doing any more digging.

Out of concern for root damage, we cancelled work at Kiwanis Park. This winter, we will explore our options for Kiwanis, including capping. We expect to finish the work in 2013.

McMicken Heights Park, SeaTac

Lake Grove Park, Federal Way

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