Agency Considers Capping Contaminated Chatsworth Park South

A state agency has a $7.22 million plan in mind to mitigate the contamination problem at Chatsworth Park South, but some nearby residents are wondering if it's even really worth it.

City officials and Department of Toxic Substances Control employees told a crowd Tuesday at Mason Recreation Center that they're leaning toward capping the surface of most of the park's usable 21-acres and installing new soil on top.

Chatsworth Park South closed to the public in February 2008 when high levels of lead and other contaminants were discovered in the soil. Half a century of skeet shooting and the remnants of pellets as well as clay pigeons was the cause.

Several residents at the meeting who've lived near and utilized the park for decades said they've never had a health-related issues because of the contamination.

There are no documented cases at this point of anyone becoming ill, but Paul Davis, an environmental specialist with the city, said mitigation is bound by liability and state regulations.

Chatsworth Park South would remain closed if no action is taken, Davis said.

Capping the current park surface and implementing new soil could take about a year, he said. In addition, most of the existing trees would have to be removed to make way for the new soil, though new trees would be planted, Davis said.

About four acres of park land occupied by 100-year-old heritage oak trees would remain untouched, but fenced off, he added.

Davis said, the parks department's forestry division would determine the final number of trees to be cut down and replaced.

The only other option briefly discussed at Tuesday's meeting was a $15.24 million proposal that entails treating the contaminated soil instead of just capping the surface altogether.

Public comment on the cleanup effort is welcome through April 22. Anyone with a comment, suggestion or a question and can e-mail them to chand.sultana@dtsc.ca.gov or by mail to Chand Sultana, Ph.D, 9211 Oakdale Ave., Chatsworth, 91311.

After that, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the city's parks department would work together to finalize a cleanup proposal.

To read more about the project, click here.