City of Greensboro closes park built atop former landfill as officials weigh remediation options

The city of Greensboro announced Thursday it's taking additional measures to close Bingham Park, which sits atop a toxic waste landfill.

Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department has placed closure signs in the park and is in the process of purchasing a fence to prevent access to the space. The decision comes after new guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alongside an updated risk management review.

City officials are in the midst of developing a remediation plan for the area. The park is the site of a pre-regulatory landfill and household waste incinerator. It's also a key part of three neighborhoods.

The city has identified $19 million in state and federal funding for remediation efforts.

Parks and Recreation Director Phil Fleischmann said at a City Council work session in March that significant environmental and race-related issues were involved with Bingham Park since its inception.

"We can't go back and rectify past injustices but we can definitely do the very best that we can at this stage to address any environmental justice concerns through our planning-related effort," he said.

The city looks to remove all contaminated soil within the park and place it in a permitted municipal solid waste landfill. Officials are currently considering waste disposal locations and funding options to complete the project.