In Minneapolis, Minnesota, city officials are planning to purchase a parcel of land that would be used to create a park near the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. However, the deal may fall through due to the recent announcement made about the quality of the soil in the area.

The city’s Park Board planned to purchase the Scherer Lumber Yard on 9th Avenue NE, and had even signed a purchase agreement in the amount of $400,000. The total area of the site spans about 14 acres along the banks of the Mississippi River. According to local news sources, “Turning the area into a park would mean people could travel on the Grand Rounds from 22nd Avenue NE through St. Anthony Falls to Minnehaha Falls.”

However, the deal is on thin ice after a 2009 study revealed elevated levels of both lead and asbestos on some areas of the site. According to the authors of the study, "If development is to occur, further investigation would be necessary."

In some cases, asbestos-contaminated soil must be dug up and transported to a designated dumping ground, or the site must be capped off with fresh dirt and/or concrete. This procedure can be quite costly, but measures must be taken to protect public health and safety, as asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.

Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms.

According to Judd Rietkert, the director of Minneapolis Park planning said the city does have the option to terminate the deal. The city’s Parks Department plans to run another series of tests to confirm the extent of the soil contamination.

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