Naperville waiting on weather to continue Sportsmans Park work

Article updated: 2/28/2014 2:12 PM

Work to remove traces of lead from the soil at Sportsmans Park near downtown Naperville is set to resume this spring, but the park district first needs some cooperation from Mother Nature.

Removal of trees in a 17-acre area where soil cleanup will take place was scheduled to begin this week, but was delayed because of cold weather, park officials said.

The tree removal will precede the second phase of environmental remediation to remove remnants of lead pellets used at the parks three trapshooting ranges until the pellets were banned in 1998.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has approved plans for the work, after which the district hopes the site will be declared safe and in need of no further remediation.

Cleanup of Sportsmans Park began last fall after testing in 2012 confirmed suspicions the park was contaminated with lead from the shooting ranges it has housed since roughly 1948.

Martam Construction last fall removed traces of lead found outside the parks eastern fence line for $490,457.

Executive Director Ray McGury said the park district now is preparing to seek bids for the second phase of lead cleanup this spring to remediate a larger area inside the fence line. The work can begin once the ground thaws.

The company chosen will excavate and remove affected soil, then treat and replenish remaining soil in the 17-acre area.

But first, the park district must remove trees inside the zone where lead is present.

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Naperville waiting on weather to continue Sportsmans Park work