Alton (Ill.) Park and Recreation director Michael Haynes said his department is busy doing as much as possible to ensure athletes have a place to play this fall following the appearance June 26 of a massive sinkhole in the city's Gordon F. Moore Community Park.
"We've been in contact with all the different user groups," Haynes said at a news conference Tuesday morning at Alton City Hall, as reported by The Telegraph. "Each one we've been in discussion with individually since this began.
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Alton (Ill.) Park and Recreation director Michael Haynes said his department is busy doing as much as possible to ensure athletes have a place to play this fall following the appearance June 26 of a massive sinkhole in the city's Gordon F. Moore Community Park.
"We've been in contact with all the different user groups," Haynes said at a news conference Tuesday morning at Alton City Hall, as reported by The Telegraph. "Each one we've been in discussion with individually since this began.
"First and foremost, we've made sure they've been able to get done what they need to get done as far as getting somewhere else."
As reported by sports editor Pete Hayes of The Telegraph, the news conference offered an update on the investigation being conducted by the Mining Safety and Health Administration. Officials indicated that the investigation remains ongoing and that the park remains closed until it can be deemed safe.
Measuring roughly 100 feet in diameter and 50 feet deep, the sinkhole resulted from mine subsidence under the park related to operations at New Frontier Materials/Bluff City Minerals at its Alton operations adjacent to Gordon Moore Park.
Related: Massive Sinkhole Swallows New New Turf Soccer Field in Illinois
In now-viral surveillance video, the sinkhole can be seen forming at 9:18 a.m. and making a 50-foot-tall light pole disappear in seconds.
NEW: Surveillance footage captures the moment a 100 foot wide and 30 foot deep sinkhole swallows a soccer field in Alton, Illinois.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 27, 2024
The footage shows bleachers and a light pole getting completely swallowed by the sinkhole at Gordon Moore Park.
According to local reports, the… pic.twitter.com/NPfgz6LLBH
"It's going to reopen," Haynes said of the park, "but we don't know when, so we have to think throughout the rest of the season through the fall right now.
"Some of our neighboring communities have been amazing, helping, reaching out, offering up their facilities.Â
"For example, adult softball has been able to play all their games in Wood River since this began. Godfrey, Edwardsville, some of the other communities around us have been taking on some of these other rentals."
The Park and Recreation Department handles scheduling field usage, as well as other rentals at the park, including pavilions, and weddings in the Nan Elliot Memorial Rose Garden.
"We're trying to do what we can and not skip a beat," Haynes said, "to keep everybody getting their activities done."
According to Hayes, Gordon Moore Park plays host primarily to the Park and Rec activities, Marquette Catholic High School sports (football practice, boys' and girls' soccer, boys' and girls' tennis, golf, baseball and softball) and the Alton River Dragons summer collegiate baseball team. Other users include the Alton Renegades football program and Alton Irish soccer. The Central Illinois Cougars semi-pro football team also plays home games at Gordon Moore Park.
"We've been thinking ahead, working with the user groups we have in the fall," Haynes said.
The Spencer T. Olin Golf Course, considered one of the St. Louis area's top public courses, is in Gordon Moore Park and remains closed, as well, Hayes reported.
Marquette athletic director Brian Hoener said his school has been busy trying to find alternative places for games and practices. Summer workouts have moved to Alston's Barth Park.
"We've been exploring other options and we're pretty comfortable with what we've seen," Hoener said when contacted after Tuesday's news conference.
"We wish it could be Gordon Moore, but with fall sports coming, we have to act."
The Illinois High School Association has set Aug. 12 as the first day for fall practices.
Per Hayes' reporting for The Telegraph:Â
Alston mayor David Goins said at the news conference that while the loss of revenue because of the park closure is a concern, safety is the chief concern for the city, New Frontier and MSHA
City Comptroller Debbie Dunlap said that it's too early to gauge any revenue impact.
Justin Kleinschmidt, who is a vice president and professional engineer with Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab, indicated that if the entrance roadway into Gordon Moore park can be deemed safe, it could be possible to open approved portions of the park, while still keeping the immediate area around the sinkhole closed during continued testing.
Haynes said he understands that people may be cautious about returning to the park at first.
"I think it's reasonable able to think that there might be come temporary questioning of what's safe and what's not," he said. "We're relying on the experts to let us know."
