On the heels of a press conference with Mayor Fenty this afternoon, NBC4 is reporting that Fort Reno Park in Northwest D.C. is now open after soil samples found that arsenic levels were "well within safety limits." Previously, satellite imagery analyzed by geographer Dr. Terry Slonecker appeared to show that arsenic levels in the park were very high, causing the National Park Service to close the park. About a week later, soil tests showed the levels were safe, and Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh and Mayor Fenty vowed to reopen the park.
Fort Reno Park Reopens
Fort Reno Arsenic Results Show Safe Levels
Things continue to look up for the future of the Fort Reno Summer Concert Series, as well as for general safety concerns in the neighborhood surrounding Fort Reno Park. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released official soil sampling results today which confirmed preliminary results that show arsenic levels in the park are well below what is considered safe.
Fort Reno Update: Arsenic Levels May Be Safe
WTOP has the scoop on the latest from the Fort Reno Park arsenic saga. Officials have said that early testing from 13 soil samples at Fort Reno Park, Wilson High School and Alice Deal Middle School show a reading of 10 parts per million -- far below the up to 1,100 parts per million a U.S. Geological Survey finding that closed the park last week. Safe levels of arsenic are listed as 43 parts per million by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Gasp! Fort Reno Park Closed!
Potentially terrible news for local music fans: The Going Out Gurus are reporting that Fort Reno Park, the site of D.C.'s beloved outdoor summer concert series, has been closed indefinitely after United States Geological Survey satellite imaging reports found high levels of arsenic in the soil there. We've since heard from readers who said they saw the park service today in the process of putting a fence around the entire park to ensure no one enters it.

