Contamination Concerns Amid City Council Discussion On Grand Park
FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) - At Monday's Frisco City Council meeting, there were discussions about plans to build a $23 million park in the area next to the old Exide battery plant.
Supporters of Grand Park expect the festival space to live up to its name. It will offer lakes for boating and giant playgrounds for children.
"I think that sounds fantastic. I think it will be a great asset for the community and a great way for people to come out with their families," said Frisco resident, Frances Long.
But despite the excitement generated by its design plans presented to the town council, there are concerns about the safety of the park.
"I just don't think it's safe," said resident Equilia Harper, who is baffled by the thought of having a water park that's going to be downstream from Exide.
An environmental group believes contaminated water and soil from the closed battery plant will send toxic chemicals downstream through Stewart Creek and into the chain of lakes that will make up the nearby park.
"Frisco is building the largest regional park in the area 500 feet away and immediately downstream from one of the largest toxic waste dumps in the area," said Jim Schermbeck of Downwinders at Risk, an organization dedicated to the continued education and advocacy concerning cement plant pollution.
The mayor and council members refused to address the concerns Schermbeck and others are talking about on camera.
But town officials did release a statement that cleanup at the Exide site will be more thorough than state standards.
"The property is being cleaned up to a level significantly below the regulatory clean-up level for 'residential'," said Dana Baird, Director of Communications and Media Relations City of Frisco.
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