ALTON, Ill. – A giant sinkhole at Gordon F. Moore Community Park in Alton is still under investigation and the park remains closed.  

The June collapse was caught on camera and left some residents wondering about the park’s future. City officials are hoping the park will be able to reopen at some point.

“What happens underground really determines how we move forward above ground,” Alton Mayor David Goins said.

Mining was taking place underneath the park. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is the federal agency tasked with investigating the ground collapse and will be the agency that determines whether the park is safe to reopen.

Goins said the city has received some encouraging news when it comes to the thickness of what he calls the rock ceiling or rock shelf. He said there’s an early indication there is more than enough thickness to support the ground in areas of concern.

“We’re going to do our due diligence to make sure that this park is safe,” he said. 

He’s hopeful that once the investigation is over, the park will be deemed safe.