Dog Park Update as of Dec. 6, 2023
On November 10, the City of Burleson released information regarding the temporary closure of Burleson Bark Park, 616 Memorial Plaza, and the entrance to Memorial Plaza due to elevated levels of lead and arsenic found in standing water samples in the area. Staff discovered standing water with a reddish hue near the dog park on Thursday, October 26, leading to the sample test and subsequent closures.
In the last month, staff contracted with an independent third-party environmental laboratory to complete an environmental analysis of the water runoff from the site. The results from the environmental analysis show elevated levels of iron in the water. While the results also included detectable amounts of lead and arsenic, as found in the first samples, the amounts did not exceed the surface water standard. With this finding, the city will be moving into a Phase II environmental site assessment for the area. This city expects to update the public on the Phase II report by the end of December.
Burleson Bark Park and the entrance to Memorial Plaza will remain closed while the analysis is being completed.
Again, we thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this issue and ensure the safety of all dog park visitors.
ORIGINAL RELEASE on Nov. 10, 2023
The City of Burleson announces the temporary closure of Burleson Bark Park, 616 Memorial Plaza, and the entrance to Memorial Plaza as a precautionary measure. The decision to close these areas comes after standing water with a reddish hue was discovered near the dog park on Thursday, October 26. This prompted city staff to submit water samples on Friday, October 27, to an independent third-party environmental laboratory, Pace Analytical, to analyze the samples.
On Friday, November 3, the results revealed elevated levels of both lead and arsenic in the water samples.
Currently, the city does not possess conclusive information regarding the cause of the elevated contaminant levels or whether the contamination occurred on-site or resulted from runoff.
While arsenic, lead, and iron naturally occur in soil, additional investigation and analysis are needed to determine the extent, if any, of hazard posed. The City of Burleson is engaging environmental services consulting firms to determine the source and nature of the contamination and if mitigation is required. In the meantime, Burleson Bark Park and the entrance to Memorial Plaza will remain closed.
Additionally, the city is taking proactive steps to protect visitors to the area surrounding Burleson Bark Park. Signs are being placed near the trail surrounding the dog park and Burleson Memorial Cemetery to inform walkers and runners to stay on designated trails and sidewalks and avoid grassy areas.
It is important to note that the Burleson Memorial Cemetery is currently open, as no evidence of the contaminants has been found within the cemetery grounds.
The City of Burleson is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents and visitors. We understand that the temporary closure of Bark Park may cause inconvenience to those who regularly utilize the facility, and we apologize for any disruption this may cause. However, the safety of all dog park visitors remains our top priority, and we will work diligently to resolve this issue and reopen the affected areas as soon as possible.
We will provide updates as more information becomes available. For the latest updates, please visit our official website www.burlesontx.com. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we address this matter and work towards a safe resolution.