As released by Dauphin County:
Wildwood Park to Reopen to the Public on Tuesday, May 21
County officials issue advisories and restrictions due to air and water quality concerns
HARRISBURG, PA (May 20, 2013) –Wildwood Park, owned and operated by Dauphin County, will reopen to the public on Tuesday, May 21. The park has been closed since May 9 while crews cleaned up fuel that seeped into the park’s wetlands after a nearby tanker truck fire in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County.
Because the fuel spill has affected the air, land and water at Wildwood Park, the park opening is subject to the following advisories and restrictions:
- It is recommended that individuals with respiratory ailments refrain from activity in the park; all others are advised to proceed with caution.
- Nothing may be harvested from the waters of Wildwood Park.
- Fishing in the park shall be “catch and release” only until further notice.
- No fish or game is deemed safe for consumption at this time.
While clean-up efforts have been completed, the air may still contain material that will affect those with sensitivity and respiratory concerns, and the flora and fauna may still be recovering from the adverse consequences of the spill.
“We will continue to monitor the conditions at the park and lift the restrictions once safety for all can be assured,” said Dauphin County Commission Chairman Jeff Haste, who has oversight of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Wildwood has received assistance from many organizations, including HazMat, Environmental Products and Services, Dauphin County Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, and Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, Inc.
Booms are still in place along the banks of the lake to absorb the fuel, and will remain in place for about one month as a precaution. Approximately 10 acres of the park’s 200 acres were impacted by the fuel leak.
Wildwood Park is open daily from dawn until dusk.