Roosevelt Park Lead Levels

We first published this article on December 17, 2019. We are republishing it here, and to Civicbroadside's readers, to provide context for the ongoing story of Roosevelt Park improvement money being funneled to other projects in the City of Malden.

Soil Testing Uncertainty Over Outdoor Classroom

On 12/17/19, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection sent Kathy Sullivan test results of recent soil tests taken at Roosevelt Park. Sullivan received these the day after filing her request. You can find images of those records attached.

Sullivan was asked to comment: “I just want the City to do the right thing for the students at Salemwood and the surrounding neighborhood. Why is it so hard to do the right thing?”

A similar soil sample request was submitted by Brian DeLacey to the City of Malden on 11/27/19, seeking “MRA Records related to soil, testing, inspection”. The City’s response to that request was returned on 12/12/19: “The MRA has no public records responsive to the request.”

The MRA’s (lack of) response appears to rely on a technicality that an “independent consultant” was holding the test results. The lead level in test results appears to have triggered reporting to the state, but those records were reportedly not turned over to the MRA.

DeLacey was unsatisfied with the response he received on 12/12/19, and submitted a follow-up request seeking more information. This included “email, notes, letters” and a number of other record types which should be in the city’s possession. DeLacey followed-up with the MRA on 12/17/19 and was informed additional records would be forthcoming.

Based on the MassDEP documents, it appears soil samples were taken at Roosevelt Park on 11/11/19. More soil samples appear to have been taken on 11/27/19. That was two days after the city’s recent community meeting covering the Roosevelt Park design plans.

A non-professional reading of the test results, with the overlay image of the field, suggest where some of the highest concentrations of lead were measured. This appears to include the first base and third base areas on the southeast softball field. As the MassDEP documents show, these areas are now enclosed by a chain link fence. It appears there were no samples taken in the “Outdoor Classroom.”

Based on information from the UMass program on “Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory”, “the US EPA has set a safe soil lead threshold limit of 400 ppm total lead …[and] recommends that soils used for gardening fall below 100 ppm total lead.” This is certainly a concern for the Outdoor Classroom, and possibly the nearby Community Garden.

The city worked to obtain translations of a Public Health Notice into a number of languages. These flyers were distributed at the Salemwood School early this week. MNN plans to publish additional public records when they are made available.