People urged to avoid section of A.E. Wilson Park due to contaminated soil

A section of A.E. Wilson Park is behind a new fence after recent testing found contaminated soil that could be harmful to people and pets.

On Thursday, an area northwest of the Jack Hamilton Arena just off McCarthy Boulevard had been fenced in and signage was to be erected. The city said in a media release the move was made “out of an abundance of caution, and to help reduce risk to the public.”

“Recently conducted soil testing in A.E. Wilson Park has revealed soil contamination in a specific area that has the potential to be harmful to people and pets if the soil underneath the vegetation is disturbed,” the release said.

“The contaminants found to be above provincial environmental levels for human health in residential areas include heavy metals and a type of hydrocarbon.”

(City of Regina/Submitted))

The city wants people to avoid the fenced-in area, although a nearby pathway will remain open. A.E. Wilson Park is an on-leash area for pets.

Kurtis Doney — the city’s director of water, waste and environment — doesn’t think the contamination will spread further into the park.

“We’ll continue to do soil sampling to determine the extent of the contamination,” he said. “We don’t expect anything is occurring as far as the contamination moving. It’s all in place now, but we’ll do further testing to determine the extent. We’re very confident this is there because of historic use.”

Based on aerial photos, the city believes the soil is contaminated because the park was built on an old landfill and waste water treatment plant.

The city says it discovered the contaminated soil while crews were starting work on a construction project.

Because of the colder weather, Doney doesn’t think there is any threat to the public or people walking in that area recently.

“With the snow cover, there is very little risk. As it melts and the spring comes upon us, we’ll make sure residents avoid the area,” he added.

Doney believes this is the first time an incident like this has happened in the park.

Up next for the park is a health assessment that’s to be completed to help further understand the situation the city is dealing with. Doney says there’s no other threat to other parks in the city.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Shane Clausing