Selah Tables Plans for New Park After Arsenic Found in Soil

SELAH, Wash. (AP) — A Yakima County city's plans for a new park have been stalled after arsenic was found in the soil.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that Selah officials have put plans for a playground for people with disabilities on hold after state Department of Ecology tests found arsenic levels in the soil exceed legal limits.

The park was slated to sit on 5 acres of what used to be a fruit orchard. Arsenic was once used as an agricultural pesticide.

The city had planned to break ground on the park this month, but now must work with an engineer to find the best way to reduce risk from the poisonous material.

Ecology officials estimate more than 58,000 acres in Yakima County alone are potentially contaminated by arsenic pesticide use.