'There's a sense of betrayal': More lead found in Durham parks

The city fenced off parts of several parks and installed warning signs at three of its parks on Aug. 4 after finding high lead levels in the soil.

The city directed a third party to conduct soil collection and testing using EPA-qualified methods after a Duke study indicated that the soil was contaminated with lead.

At the beginning of August, three parks were found to have elevated levels: Walltown Park, East Durham and East End Park.

On Friday, the Durham Parks and Recreation Department announced that the Northgate Park playground is now closed after finding high lead levels in the soil.

The department also announced Friday that unsafe levels of lead where found at Lyon Park -- a park that the department previously said posed no threat.

In the same update from Friday, the department said more unsafe levels of lead were found at Walltown Park -- more than was previously found at the beginning of August.

"The preliminary soil screening results provided on August 3 identified seven areas above the EPA 400 ppm threshold," the department said about Walltown Park in Friday's update. "Following preliminary laboratory analysis of soil samples, one additional sample has measured above the EPA threshold."

In addition to the high lead levels that were already found at East End Park, the department announced Friday that more unsafe levels of lead were found at the park.

"I saw lead and I was like, 'Who knew?'" said Dale Fearrington, who lives near Walltown Park. "I was like, 'Oh, they may take my court.' My stomach started hurting."

Fencing and signs have filled up these playgrounds, and the city has restricted access.

The city said it will hold in-person community conversations about these initial findings. For now, the city is advising people to avoid the blocked areas.

"There's a sense of betrayal when you think you're going to a city park, you don't think you're going somewhere dangerous," said Marcus Southern, a member of the Walltown Community Association.

Southern, who lives by the park, said he wants his young son to get a blood test for lead poisoning.

He told WRAL News the community association is also trying to get the public health department to do on-site testing.

"It's bizarre and disappointing that we have to assume this kind of burden to protect ourselves," Southern said.

The parks used to be incinerator sites where trash was burned.

That's raising questions for Duke environmental researcher Mercedes Bravo.

"I don't know if there were plans to monitor these soils," Bravo said. "And if there weren't plans in place, that's really surprising."

Bravo said it's an eye-opening experience and a message to future project developers.

"We'll learn from this right and say, 'Well, it's great to turn this into a school but let's make sure it's safe,'" Bravo said.

A final report will come on August 15 after lab analysis. The report will provide short- and long-term solutions, including removing and filling all contaminated soil with clean soil.

A spokesperson for Parks and Rec told WRAL News that because preliminary findings didn't show contamination in any playgrounds, the city does not plan to close them down.