09/06/2026
University City residents are encouraged to attend the next meeting of the U. City Stormwater Commission, THIS Tuesday, September 8 at 3:30pm at Heman Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania. One point of discussion will be the possible need for soil testing in Metcalfe Park. Some background: At the July meeting of the U. City Stormwater Commission, local environmentalist and former state rep Maria Chappell-Nadal made a presentation titled “Flood Waters and Soil Contamination Concerns.” One of her recommendations was that the City consider testing the soil in Metcalfe Park due to concerns that the site had functioned as a landfill a number of decades ago. As a follow up, the Stormwater Commission reviewed a 1999 report (brought by City Attorney John Mulligan) that documents that the Park had indeed previously been a limestone quarry which later became a landfill until purchased by the City for Metcalfe Park (Geotechnology Report on Metcalfe Park, August 22, 1999). The report documents considerable soil churning, with a lack of information about what exactly was dumped in the landfill. The Flood Task Force is asking that University City invest in soil testing at Metcalfe, particularly since children play in the park and it borders a childcare center and senior facility. All are welcome to attend the meeting to learn more.
