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The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it’s giving 600,000 dollars to the City of Springfield to clean up a plot of land in central Springfield. KSMU's Jennifer Moore has details.
Reporter Standup: “Right now, I’m standing in a plot of grass in central Springfield. 100 years ago, the place where I’m standing would have been part of a massive railyard belonging to the Frisco Railroad. The sounds of trains loading up both goods and passengers would have resonated throughout this area. And other shops around here would have been busy with paint, with lead and other tools needed to make the railroad thrive. As a result, though, this land is contaminated. The Environmental Protection Agency has just announced that it’s awarding the City of Springfiled 600,000 dollars to clean up this area, and turn it into a space that can be used by the public.”
The plot of land in central Springfield known as Jordan Valley West Meadows.
The City of Springfield won the EPA cleanup grant through a competitive bidding process. Karl Brooks is the head of the EPA’s Region 7 in Missouri.
“The quality of its application just shone out. There’s a really good vision here. It’s a big vision, but it’s realizable. It’s doable. And Springfield people have shown that they can pull together and accomplish what they set their minds to,” Brooks said.
He said the EPA provides some oversight of the environmental cleanup project. The EPA also provides some technical support, he said.
The long-range plans for the West Meadows project will include a picnic and play area, a rain garden, a walking and biking path, and a learning center. The area is just north of College Street and east of Fort Avenue.
For KSMU News, I'm Jennifer Moore.
Click here to see the City of Springfield's Plan for the West Meadows Project
