Sunset Park soccer fields closed for testing

The Sunset Meadows basin has been closed while Arlington Heights Park District officials test the water for possible contaminants.

Some water samples recently came back "somewhat inconclusive," so park officials are asking the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to help them figure out the next step, said Brian Huckstadt, director of parks and planning for the Arlington Heights Park District.

"We've taken samples of the water because there has been some concern about the runoff from the streets that goes into the basin," Huckstadt said. "At this point, we don't know if there is an issue or not."

Because the basin is so close to streets, some parents are concerned gasoline is mixing with the water in the basin, Huckstadt said.

Until the IEPA tests come back, the basin is closed. Soccer teams that usually practice there will practice at other fields, Huckstadt said.

The Sunset Meadows field serves as a detention basin and was built to ease flooding in the area. After big storms, water is held in the basin for a couple of days and then slowly released into area creeks and sewers.

When not holding water, park district soccer teams use the lighted basin as practice fields. The park is at New Wilke and Kirchoff roads. In total, 28 soccer teams have practiced at the fields.

IEPA officials are meeting with Huckstadt this week to determine what further tests need to be done.

If the IEPA finds a major problem with the water in the Sunset Meadows basin, the park district and village will share the cost of any cleanup, Huckstadt said.

"After we meet with IEPA, we can figure out the next step," he said.