Weber Center Varnish Found Safe, Skokie Park District Says

SKOKIE, IL — The Skokie Park District assured the public that the varnish it uses on the floor of the gym at the newly-renovated Weber Center is not dangerous, the Skokie Review reported. The district carried out independent testing after a member of the public expressed concerns about the product, called Sikafloor WP-8.1, to the Park District and Skokie Village Board last year.

Levels were within Occupational Safety Health Administration recommended limits the whole time, other than the day the varnish was spread – when the facility was closed to the public and only protected workers were on the scene, according to the paper.

The Weber Center has been undergoing a renovation project since March. That project is nearly complete, according to the park district.

The district's health director told the Review the state Environmental Protection Agency approved the varnish. Still, the Park District called for additional testing while the floor was varnished this year.

"I think you can see we did our due diligence," Park District Health Director Dr. Catherine Counard told the paper. "When we receive a complaint like that, we don't want to stand idly by."

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