Twp. temporarily closes park as a precaution Preliminary tests of Fifth District Park indicate potential contamination BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer Woodbridge Township officials made the decision to temporarily close the Fifth District Park in the college town section of Avenel on June 11 as a precautionary measure. "I have decided to temporarily close the park after reviewing preliminary test results obtained from our independent environmental engineer [Birdsall Engineering based in Eatontown]," said Mayor John E. McCormac, who added that the township Department of Health and Human Services made the recommendation to close the park. The mayor received a verbal briefing from the township's independent engineering firm the morning of June 11. Township officials hired the firm two months ago to conduct various tests on the contaminated soil and groundwater on the old General Dynamics site as well as the surrounding area. McCormac said that while the test results were not complete and additional tests would be done, he felt it was important to take precautionary measures until they know whether or not there are any public health concerns. "As I said at the May 17 public meeting, the primary mission is to make certain that there is no public health concern and to get the General Dynamics site cleaned up to the highest possible standard," he said. The indefinite closure of the 1.9-acre park, which is owned by the township, was ordered after preliminary environmental test results indicated the potential of elevated levels of base-neutral compounds and other contaminants in soil samples taken from the perimeter of the park. The mayor, along with Ward 3 Councilman Greg Bedard, who lives in the college section of Avenel, presented a proposed plan on May 17 for the former General Dynamics Corp. site at 150 Avenel St., which has had soil and groundwater contamination issues over the years. Electro Dynamics Corp. of General Dynamics decided to close its Avenel plant of 357.811 square feet on 27.54 acres and relocate operations elsewhere in 2003. The proposed plan involved an art-themed work-and-live townhouse development with boutiques, an ice cream store, and cafes. Township officials have sent out various vapor tests on the contaminated soil and groundwater; however, there is no timeline set when the tests would be complete. "There will be additional meetings when we get the results back," said McCormac. "Right now, it's all about the cleanup." Many residents, including Carol Hruschka, who lives on Lehigh Avenue, came to the May 17 meeting, which brought more than 150 residents, expressing concerns about the contamination. She presented township officials with 14 names of residents in the college section of the township between the ages of 15 and 60 who have died or were diagnosed with cancer. McCormac said he and Bedard have had four house gatherings and when they heard about how many people had been diagnosed with cancer and how many people had died, they said they were shocked. "That is the more reason to clean up the site to the highest possibility," said McCormac. "We have no evidence that the contamination from the site is linked to cancer, but it's very coincidental and a big concern." Township officials said that in the coming weeks the township would have the Township Council introduce a resolution declaring the 27-acre property in Avenel a redevelopment area, which would allow the township to work with the owners [brothers Joe and Tobey Cohen] to come up with a suitable solution for the site.