Should Palmetto Bay Parks be tested for contamination - a most unexpected development in Miami - as reported in the Miami Herald

Every now and then something happens somewhere else that causes you to take note and consider testing. Such an event was reported in the Miami Herald, Tuesday, August 20, 2019 edition (front page section, page 1A): Report on Beckham stadium site shows soil contaminated by unsafe levels of arsenic, by Joey Flechas (and no, it wasn't the unrelated but equally eye catching article located below the fold, same page entitled: "Hurricanes may spin a more aggressive population of spiders", new study shows, by Alex Harris - but I reviewed that article as well) but back to our parks:

The Miami Herald reports that the site proposed for the Soccer stadium and shopping mall (at current Melreese Golf Course) is far more toxic than previously expected, with arsenic contamination levels reaching more than twice the legal limit and surface-level soil samples containing debris that poses a “physical hazard.”  This is troubling more than for the proposed use. It is troubling for the ongoing use as a golf course. As reported:

A new environmental analysis has shed more light on the large extent of the environmental problems in the dirt at Melreese golf course, Miami’s only city-owned golf course and the potential site for a sprawling $1 billion commercial and stadium complex that would serve as the venue for home games played by David Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami.

A consultant hired by the team, environmental firm EE&G, recently completed soil testing that found contamination levels at twice the allowable limit for arsenic. Barium and lead levels also exceeded legal limits. The crud, including debris at shallow depths, kept showing up over the course of more than 140 soil samples taken in recent months.

“The debris included fragments of tile, metal and glass, mixed with fine-grain sands, which often exhibited a rusty color,” reads a section from a 193-page portion of the consultant’s report. “Intermittent wood fragments were encountered along with concrete and other non-native materials, but not evidence of municipal garbage.”

Read the entire article to gain all the insight. Now I realize that Melreese is located basically adjacent to Miami International Airport where there is historic and heavy commercial use ongoing, which is far different from any of our parks.  But then again, we did inherit many of our park land from Miami-Dade County which has been engaged in remediation issues at County owned & operated Chapman Field located in the neighboring Pinecrest/Coral Gables area. And Coral Reef Park is currently undergoing demolition of the long-red tagged field house, which is located as part of the Tot lot/playground - (note that the playground is closed during the demolition for public safety).

Just to be safe. We (Palmetto Bay officials) have historically tested the water at the Palmetto Bay Bark Park to monitor safety.  Perhaps we should test the remainder of our Palmetto Bay Parks, just to provide assurances to our residents in general, Park users and neighbors that we are not playing in an unsafe toxic area.

Late Tuesday (8/20/2019) update - Melreese Golf Course ordered closed temporarily - RELATED UPDATE TO MELREESE STORY: please read the Miami Herald online: Miami closes Melreese after tests on Beckham stadium site reveal unsafe arsenic levels by Joey Flechas and Adriana Brasileiro:

Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez ordered the closure of Melreese golf course, Miami’s only city-owned golf course, at the end of the day Tuesday, one day after an environmental analysis revealed high levels of arsenic and other pollutants in the soil where David Beckham plans to build a stadium to host his upcoming Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

Click on the link above to read the entire updated story.