Natick To Hold Public Meeting On East Park Contamination

NATICK, MA — Natick officials will hold a public forum on Jan. 13 to discuss harmful chemicals found in soil near East Park. PCBs were found in soil near the Speedway gas station along Route 9, which abuts the southwest corner of the park.

The southwest corner of the park and the baseball field were closed to the public on Nov. 6. On Nov. 8, the entire park was closed for further testing. The park was partially reopened a few days later. At that point, officials said the area of the park along Oak Street was safe to use.

East Park, 90 Oak St., has undergone a major renovation recently, with upgrades done to the playground, basketball, tennis, pickleball, and baseball field areas.

The public forum on the PCB issue will be held next Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the East School gym, 90 Oak St.

PCBs were used from the 1920s until they were banned in 1979. They were used in electrical components like power tranformers, but also in paint, photocopy paper, and engine oil. PCBs do not break down quickly in the environment and can remain embedded in soil for decades. The chemicals are known to cause cancer, but can also seriously damage human organs.