By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

A park planned for south Peoria included on the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan has been removed after a test revealed a history of dumping at the site.

Architectural Services Manager Edward Striffler said the city began planning for the proposed park, located on the southeast corner of Olive and 99th  avenues in the Pine District, by placing it on the 2013-22 Capital Improvement Program.

Geotechnical studies commissioned by the city suggested a history of dumping at the property and that a large amount of soil removal and re-compaction would be needed depending on the top-side use, causing costly challenges for  the city, Mr. Striffler said.

“Major excavations of the buried debris, disposal, and the costs of import and reconstruction of the soil are large earth moving efforts that would place a substantial cost burden on the park’s capital budget,” he said.
“In a park, the light poles, fence and backstop foundations, armadas, and restroom buildings all require structurally stable soils. Underground water, sewer, irrigation and electrical also need to be bedded into clean, protective soils. Something like a turf play area or gravel parking lot could endure more settlement and be more easily repaired or re-leveled than buildings or tall fence structures which require structural foundations.”

Studies on other projects in the area — 99th and Olive avenues trailhead and 99th Avenue reconstruction — revealed the site proposed for the park had a history of dumping.

Mr. Striffler said they confirmed debris from an earlier era of dumping that occurred along New River, which runs along part of the property. The buried debris ranged from household waste to construction-type debris.

“For the soil samples taken, there was no notable presence of any known hazardous contaminants, simply debris,” he said.

Mr. Striffler said the findings support concerns that future improvements on these parcels, which are owned by the Rudolph Johnson family, will require substantial soil enhancements to mitigate settlement and to support load-bearing structures.

About $8.4 million was alloted for the 15-acre park, and spending was to begin with about $2.8 million in fiscal year 2019 and $5.6 million in fiscal year 2020.

Funds for the proposed park were to cover land acquisition, design, construction, development fees, utility fees and park-related capital equipment costs. Planned amenities included playgrounds, hard-court surfacing, picnic shelters and restrooms, landscaping, lighted turf areas and other amenities.

Instead, city staff is recommending planned funds for the park go to enhancing the Pine District’s Country Meadows Neighborhood Park.

Study costs included $5,100 for the 99th and Olive avenues trailhead, as well as $22,500 for the 99th Avenue reconstruction. No other costs were associated with the proposed park.

Most capital projects that involve the purchase of land or existing structures begin with a due diligence effort, such as a geotechnical study, that leads up to the land purchase. Funding needed for any professional services, like a geotechnical study, preceding an acquisition is not available until the project is approved in the CIP.

“In some cases like this one, efforts on one project in the vicinity of an another may yield early information.” Mr. Striffler said.