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Resident urges village action after soil tests show contamination at Sedgwick Park
Summary
Resident John Pluto told the La Grange board that soil sampling at Sedgwick Park found contamination across roughly five acres and urged the village to press utility companies and regulators to ensure proper remediation and assess drainage impacts.
John Pluto, a La Grange resident who lives at 718 East Avenue, told the village board on June 23 that recent soil samples at Sedgwick Park returned contamination across about five acres and warned the board that proposed park grading could worsen drainage and affect nearby properties.
"Five acres of the park came up dirty," Pluto said, describing a 2024 timeline of testing and saying the EPA has identified remediation options that include "pull[ing] three feet of soil out of the contaminated area and replac[ing] it with a barrier and clean dirt" or placing three feet of clean soil on top of the existing soil. He said the park is in a low area where raising the East Avenue side by three feet could trap water in the center and aggravate an already high water table.
Pluto urged the village to investigate who will pay for cleanup, to coordinate oversight of prior work near the site and to press utilities to reopen or reexamine their remediation commitments. He suggested the board contact the Illinois Commerce Commission or other regulators if necessary and said he believes prior work by a gas company may be related to the contamination.
Village Manager Knight acknowledged the comment and the board thanked Pluto for raising the issue; no staff report, plan or board direction was recorded during the public comment period. The board did not vote on any action tied to the park during the meeting.
Why it matters: Sedgwick Park serves nearby residents; soil contamination and changes to site grade could affect public‑safety, stormwater drainage and property values. Residents asked for clearer oversight and for the village to confirm who bears cleanup costs before construction proceeds.
What the transcript shows: Pluto repeatedly described the two EPA remediation approaches (excavation and replacement versus capping), cited a November 1, 2024 work timeline and raised concerns that material removed from a nearby remediation effort was returned to the park area. He asked the board whether village regulations or inspections ensure correct remediation by outside contractors and utility companies; the meeting record does not include an answer or an explicit staff assignment to follow up.
Next steps reported: None recorded at the meeting. The comment was entered during the public‑comment portion; the board moved on without scheduling a staff presentation or vote on the topic.
