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Geologist says Jefferson Memorial Park tennis-court cracks reflect bedrock and settling, not imminent sinkholes
Summary
A ground-penetrating-radar review of Jefferson Memorial Park found bedrock outcrops and soft-soil anomalies under the tennis courts that likely cause recurring cracking; the geologist recommended targeted test borings and utility verification before any major reconstruction.
A ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) survey presented at the City of Charles Town Parks and Recreation meeting on Jan. 23 found that recurring cracking in the Jefferson Memorial Park tennis courts most likely stems from tilted limestone bedrock and localized soft soils, not an imminent sinkhole, the presenter said.
"I don't see any big sinkholes or any bad areas," the geologist said, adding later, "there's no imminent collapse or anything like that" while recommending selective drill or auger testing in anomalous areas. The report, summarized by the presenter, mapped white-and-gray anomalies that could represent either bedrock outcrops or patches of soft soil and identified several specific areas for further investigation.
Why it matters: the tennis courts have required repeated repaving and spot repairs; board members said patches reappear within a few years. The GPR findings suggest uneven settling over tilted bedrock is the dominant cause, which would make full excavation and replacement both difficult and costly.
What the board heard: the presenter explained that West Virginia geology in the survey area is typically limestone with tilted layers, leaving exposed rock and pockets of soft clay. He told commissioners the cracks line up with areas where bedrock outcrops are closer to the surface and said that while repairs can be made, "it's gonna be a perpetual minor cracks" unless the site is fully excavated — a step the presenter called likely cost-prohibitive.
Commissioners pressed on utilities and possible water lines. The presenter said one long linear anomaly is "pretty much a water line" and urged staff to verify whether that feature is active. Board members asked staff to match the GPR data with utility records (CTUB was suggested) and consider targeted borings only at locations where future construction was planned.
Next steps: the board directed staff to coordinate the study results with utility records and to plan limited test borings if the city decides to rebuild or relocate courts. No construction decision or funding appropriation was made at the meeting.
