Thursday, December 09, 2004
ERIN ALBERTY THE SAGINAW NEWS
Stabilization work will begin this week at Imerman Memorial Park, where tests have found high levels of dioxins in the soil.
The plan to stabilize the bank with a layer of rocks is part of an overall improvement plan to deal with contamination at the Saginaw Township park.
Today crews were to begin clearing vegetation off the bank of the Tittabawassee River, which runs adjacent to the park. Next week, workers will begin laying the rock layer around the bank. The layer is intended to keep the river from eroding the bank and sweeping away contaminated soil, said John Schmude, director of the Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, which oversees the park.
Workers should finish the rock layer during the winter, Schmude said.
Other riverbank improvements include a sidewalk parallel to the river, a handrail and new fishing docks.
"We're hoping to finish the project up totally in the spring," Schmude said.
Dow Chemical Co., which is negotiating with the state on how to proceed with dioxin cleanup, is paying for the $340,000 project.
The presence of dioxins has led to a series of park adaptations designed to keep park users out of contact with the soil, including wood chips on trails and wash stations. In addition to improvements on the bank, paved walkways, parking and stretching areas are among tentative plans.
Usage at Imerman Park declined dramatically last summer, when revenue dropped 43 percent from the previous year.
Park officials attribute at least part of the decline to dioxin warnings. In April, state officials advised school districts to avoid Imerman Park and other river sites, previously used for sporting events and field trips, to avoid exposing students to the contaminant. v
© 2004 Saginaw News.
For additional articles like this one, go to the Tittabawasse River Watch web site www.trwnews.net for complete coverage of the Tittabawassee River Dow Chemical dioxin contamination saga. . The Newspaper / Media page of our site contains an extensive archive of media articles dating back to January 2002. The source organization's web site link is listed to the right of the article, visit often for other news in our area. The Newspaper / Media page may be accessed by scrolling down to the bottom of the CONTENTS section and clicking on the Newspaper/Media link.