A popular Miami park is under the microscope after a new report claims some of the soil is contaminated.
According to a 230-page report done by SCS Engineers, a firm hired by Miami-Dade County, things like arsenic and lead were found in certain areas of Bayfront Park, a popular destination for concerts and festivals.
Some testing has recently been done and large portions of the park are closed because of this. And the whole park could close if something isn't done.
But according to Miami City Commissioner Frank Corollo, there’s no reason to be concerned. He told NBC 6 it’s safe for his family, all families, to be at the park.
Corollo is also the Chairman of the Bayfront Park Trust, the park's managing body.
"The experts have determined even though there are some contaminants in order for anyone to potentially be contaminated they would have to play at the park for 350 days of the year for 50 years," he said.
But he acknowledges the job needs to be done.
"Certain laws stipulate that we need to clean up the contaminants and we will be cleaning them up," he said.
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Some parents NBC 6 spoke with said they wish there was some kind of signage around the areas that are fenced off explaining why their kids can’t go on the grass.
A map shows the areas that need to have the dirt removed or covered up, a project that is set to cost $1 million.
Corollo said Bayfront Park Trust will pay for the cleanup but adds it’s unusual for the managing body to do so rather than the municipality that owns it. In this case it’s the City of Miami.
“Bayfront Park Trust Management has run the park in such an efficient manner we are expected to pay and will pay for the clean up," Corollo said.
Bayfront Park and the City of Miami have until July 11 to submit what’s called a Corrective Action Plan of how they’re going to fix this. If not the park could be in jeopardy of shutting down.
