Zebulon Park Lead Contamination: State Communication Criticized

0:00It's April 22nd. This is Durham News Today, driven by AI. Zebulon town leaders are calling out the state for weak communication after lead turned up in the soil at Gilstree Park. They shut it down last month when test show levels above North Carolina safety standards for homes. The spot was built right on a 1960 landfill with barely a foot of dirt over old trash like glass shards, metal, bricks, and porcelain. Earlier tests back in 2024 flagged the lead, but the town followed an environmental firm's advice and kept parts of the park open, including the playground and basketball court. Parts director Sheila Long says the stages mails a basic letter every 10 years noting a pre-regulated dump nearby with zero tips on soil checks or health risks. She's pushing hard for clearer guidance, especially since folks might not know their yards sit on contaminated land. This hits home because Gilstree is one of 33 old landfill sites in Wake County, all from before rules stop toxins from leaching into. The ground, meanwhile, is blowing

1:04up statewide. Durham faces over $10 million to clean lead from five parks after Duke researchers sounded alarms in 2022. Greensboro's council just greenlit $12.4 million to cap and cover soil at Bingham Park. Town owns the park and handles all upkeep, but leaders like Longstress, this angel Zebulon, it's everywhere, and better alerts could protect kids, playing on hidden houses before cost skyrocket.