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August 22. 2012 11:00PM
Beach at Chase Park closed for season to clean up glass
WEARE — The discovery of a large amount of broken glass in the sand at Chase Park has led to the closure of the beach for the rest of the summer while the town works on a plan to fix the problem.
According to Town Administrator Naomi Bolton, the Department of Public Works brought a load of sand to the beach at the request of Parks and Recreation earlier in the season to spruce up the swimming area. But somewhere along the way, the sand from the town’s own pit became mixed with a significant amount of glass.
At first, people were picking up the glass, thinking that someone had broken a few bottles, said Bolton. Parks and Recreation went in with rakes and volunteers to clear away the glass, but the more they raked, the more glass they found. When they thought all the glass was gone, it rained, revealing a whole new layer of glass, said Bolton.
The Department of Public Works crew went in and tried to take up the sand they had put down, but by that point, the glass had gone into the water and further excavation couldn’t be done without a permit from the Department of Environmental Services. So on Aug. 14, the beach was closed for the rest of the season, said Bolton.
“We’re still not sure how it happened,” said Bolton, “but we’re confident that nothing was done intentionally.”
Bolton said it’s possible that the DPW’s loader, which is used to move around recycled glass at the transfer station, may have had some glass in it when the sand was loaded into the truck. Because the glass that has been collected is all different colors, this seems to be the most logical conclusion, Bolton said.
The town is applying for a permit from DES to go in and do further excavation beyond the water line. But Bolton said the work won’t be done until the state draws down the water behind the dam in preparation for winter, which usually happens around Columbus Day in October.
Until then, the park is still open and people can swim in the area near the Red Cross chair, but the beach area will remain closed, she said.
Nancy Bean Foster may be reached at nfoster@newstote.com.
According to Town Administrator Naomi Bolton, the Department of Public Works brought a load of sand to the beach at the request of Parks and Recreation earlier in the season to spruce up the swimming area. But somewhere along the way, the sand from the town’s own pit became mixed with a significant amount of glass.
At first, people were picking up the glass, thinking that someone had broken a few bottles, said Bolton. Parks and Recreation went in with rakes and volunteers to clear away the glass, but the more they raked, the more glass they found. When they thought all the glass was gone, it rained, revealing a whole new layer of glass, said Bolton.
The Department of Public Works crew went in and tried to take up the sand they had put down, but by that point, the glass had gone into the water and further excavation couldn’t be done without a permit from the Department of Environmental Services. So on Aug. 14, the beach was closed for the rest of the season, said Bolton.
“We’re still not sure how it happened,” said Bolton, “but we’re confident that nothing was done intentionally.”
Bolton said it’s possible that the DPW’s loader, which is used to move around recycled glass at the transfer station, may have had some glass in it when the sand was loaded into the truck. Because the glass that has been collected is all different colors, this seems to be the most logical conclusion, Bolton said.
The town is applying for a permit from DES to go in and do further excavation beyond the water line. But Bolton said the work won’t be done until the state draws down the water behind the dam in preparation for winter, which usually happens around Columbus Day in October.
Until then, the park is still open and people can swim in the area near the Red Cross chair, but the beach area will remain closed, she said.
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Nancy Bean Foster may be reached at nfoster@newstote.com.
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