Last Weekend To Enjoy Arboretum at Everett’s Legion Park Until 2016

Arsenic cleanup begins Monday in the southern portion of Legion Park in north Everett. The initial cleanup will focus on the area of the Arboretum but not the northern playground, ballfields and picnic area. That will stay open through Labor Day. Here’s information from the City of Everett and State Department of Ecology on what’s going on…

The Department of Ecology and the City of Everett will close the south portion of American Legion Park on Monday, July 20, to begin soil cleanup. During the closure, one to two feet of arsenic-contaminated soil will be removed from the park, and replaced with clean soil.

The southern portion of Legion Park includes the arboretum, which will be unavailable beginning next Monday. The north portion of the park, which includes the main park and ballfields, will remain open through Labor Day.

Beginning on Sept. 8, the northern portion of the park, which is home to the picnic shelter, playground, restroom facilities and American Legion Hall, will also close. The entire park will stay closed through early 2016, when it is scheduled to reopen.

During the closure, parking will be moved to the bluff overlook area, which will stay open, on the west side of Alverson Blvd. Legion Memorial Golf Course will not be affected, and will remain open through the soil cleanup.

For more information on the Everett Smelter Cleanup program, please visit the Everett Smelter Cleanup site. .