Westland's annual Fourth of July fireworks display will be held at the contaminated, now-closed Central City Park, pending the outcome of state Department of Environmental Quality soil testing.
The park was closed in January after the Free Press asked questions about tests that showed lead contamination at the site.
"Perhaps when this round of testing is completed the results may show a portion of the park that is safe to stage the fireworks," Westland Mayor William R. Wild said Wednesday.
The DEQ is expected to do testing in the next two to three weeks, Wild said.
The fireworks display will be held at about 10 p.m. July 4 at the park, behind Bailey Recreation Center, 36651 Ford Road.
The council stipulated that the plan is contingent on approval from the DEQ, Wayne County, which owns the park, and the Westland Fire Department.
Vanessa Denha-Garmo, a spokeswoman for Wayne County, said the county is closely monitoring the situation and waiting for the DEQ test results.
"If we can be assured that it would be environmentally safe for the public, we would have no problem with it being used for the fireworks," she said.
The fireworks display is launched from a platform and will not disturb the soil, Wild said.
The DEQ did its first tests at the park in 1999 and found contamination on the park's west side. The tests found high lead levels on two baseball diamonds.
Testing by Wayne County in 2001 and 2005 found lead near the largest playscape and on soccer fields.
Wild said a decision on the fireworks had to be made to give the Westland Festival Committee time to prepare.
If the DEQ concludes that the site would present a health risk, the fireworks would be held on land owned by the Wayne Ford Civic League just east of Central City Park.
Contact CECIL ANGEL at 313-223-4531 or angel@freepress.com.
The park was closed in January after the Free Press asked questions about tests that showed lead contamination at the site.
"Perhaps when this round of testing is completed the results may show a portion of the park that is safe to stage the fireworks," Westland Mayor William R. Wild said Wednesday.
The DEQ is expected to do testing in the next two to three weeks, Wild said.
The fireworks display will be held at about 10 p.m. July 4 at the park, behind Bailey Recreation Center, 36651 Ford Road.
The council stipulated that the plan is contingent on approval from the DEQ, Wayne County, which owns the park, and the Westland Fire Department.
Vanessa Denha-Garmo, a spokeswoman for Wayne County, said the county is closely monitoring the situation and waiting for the DEQ test results.
"If we can be assured that it would be environmentally safe for the public, we would have no problem with it being used for the fireworks," she said.
The fireworks display is launched from a platform and will not disturb the soil, Wild said.
The DEQ did its first tests at the park in 1999 and found contamination on the park's west side. The tests found high lead levels on two baseball diamonds.
Testing by Wayne County in 2001 and 2005 found lead near the largest playscape and on soccer fields.
Wild said a decision on the fireworks had to be made to give the Westland Festival Committee time to prepare.
If the DEQ concludes that the site would present a health risk, the fireworks would be held on land owned by the Wayne Ford Civic League just east of Central City Park.
Contact CECIL ANGEL at 313-223-4531 or angel@freepress.com.