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Grove's Blanche Park To Close For Toxic Soil Removal

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Blanche Park in Coconut Grove will be closed through June so workers can remove contaminated soil.

The toxic soil was detected in the park at 3045 Shipping Avenue last August but Miami officials allowed the park to remain open because they felt the park's artificial turf and asphalt protected park-goers. Tests showed that some of the dirt in one area of the parking lot was tainted with toxic metals, dioxins and arsenic six inches to a foot beneath the ground.

Ash dumped at the park back in the 1940's from an incinerator known as "Old Smokey," and three other incinerators, might be the reason for the contamination.

Nearby Peacock Park and Esther M. Armbrister Park were also studied, but no contamination was found.

This Wednesday a section of Blanche's dog park area and the playground will be closed, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.

The city plans to remove and replace at least a foot of the contaminated soil along with the artificial turf. At the same time a new drainage system will be installed and an impermeable liner.

The project will cost about $400,000.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)

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