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Residents urge testing after bandshell footings may have disturbed old landfill at Riverside Park
Summary
Residents told the council they fear bandshell footings at Riverside Park may have breached an old landfill cap and could be releasing methane; the council said it will contact WHKS, county officials, contractors and the city attorney to investigate.
Two residents raised environmental and safety concerns Nov. 12 after work on the new bandshell at Riverside Park exposed what they believe may be an old landfill site.
Jim Potter and Virgil Andrist told the council the bandshell footings may have broken a cap on an old landfill and that methane could be leaking. The council said it believes the area was likely an uncapped dump but committed to investigate further and to contact WHKS, the county, the contractors involved with the bandshell and the City Attorney to explore options.
What the council will do next: Council members directed follow-up outreach to the engineering consultant WHKS, county staff, the contractors who worked on the bandshell footings and the City Attorney to determine whether methane testing, remediation or additional safeguards are needed. The minutes do not record any timeline or budget for testing.
Why it matters: If methane or other contamination were present, the issue could affect park safety, construction timelines and potential remediation costs. The minutes record concern and next steps but do not document scientific findings or confirm the presence of methane.
