Cutler Bay moves to excavate arsenic‑impacted soil at Blue Heron Park after county approval

Town environmental counsel Michael Goldstein told the Town of Cutler Bay council on May 21 that Miami‑Dade County regulators have approved the town’s source‑removal and soil‑management plan for arsenic‑impacted soil at Blue Heron Park, clearing the way for bids and a constrained cleanup schedule.

Goldstein summarized the plan: excavate impacted soils across the five‑acre park “down to groundwater and all the way to the property boundaries,” ship excavated material to an approved landfill under manifest protocol, preserve large trees through tree‑protection zones designed by an arborist, and install engineered controls where small amounts of impacted soil remain around root balls.

Timeline and costs

Goldstein said the county provided a written approval the morning of the meeting. Staff planned to solicit bids from at least three contractors the next week, receive proposals by June 4, and return a contractor recommendation to council for award on June 18. Subject to the council award, Goldstein said work would start no later than August 1 and conclude by October 1, with the town hopeful of finishing as soon as November. He said the town’s objective is to reopen the park by Dec. 31, 2025, assuming schedules and permitting remain on track.

Groundwater and long‑term controls

Goldstein noted…