Indianapolis’ Sandorf Park, set for major renovation, may be contaminated
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — City and state investigators are seeing whether a local park that was undergoing major renovations is contaminated, Indy Parks has told News 8.
Sandorf Park is on the near-south side just northeast of I-65 and East Raymond Street. The park had been selected for the National Recreation and Park Association to be a part of its 2018 Parks Build Community project.
In an announcement made nearly a year ago, officials said more than $500,000 was to be invested in 2018 for the park’s renovation. Zip lines, new sports facilities and a portable movie screen are part of the plans.
However, Indy Parks confirmed to News 8 the construction has stopped after workers spotted what could be industrial sand. A fence now surrounds the park.
Industrial sand has silica in it. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, when industrial sand is chipped, ground, drilled or cut, it can go airborne. The risks if it’s airborne include arthritis, kidney disease and lung cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A.J. Maple lives less than a block from the park. He said he saw the park demolished before the work stopped.
“Oh, man,” he said to News 8 after being told about the testing. “And I took my granddaughter down there.”
A spokeswoman for Indy Parks said the city has done testing of the soil and groundwater. The statement did not include the initial test results, and News 8 has reached out to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management about the result. As of Tuesday night, News 8 has not received a statement from IDEM.
The news about the testing surprised people who live around the park. Several people told News 8 it was the first time they were hearing about any of it. That includes Lenny Lockhart, whose home is right across the street from Sandorf Park, which was opened in 1959.
Indy Parks said in its statement that the city had been in touch with people in the area and with Indianapolis Public Schools’ Super School 19 that is right next to Sandorf Park.
Other residents said the signs that say the park is closed do not make it clear the site could be dangerous.