ALTON, Ill. – More information is coming about the huge sinkhole that swallowed part of a soccer field and a massive light pole in a park in Alton.
Alton City leaders and officials from New Frontier Materials are slated to address the public at Gordon Moore Community Park in Alton after a sinkhole opened up in the fields on June 26.
New Frontier Materials is a company that was mining underneath the park where the sinkhole took place.
Security video from Gordon Moore Park captured the incredible moments when the sinkhole opened up.
A release from Alton Mayor David Doins talks about this morning’s news conference, calling the episode a mine subsidence event.
The sinkhole is estimated to be about 50 feet deep and 100 feet wide.
Alton City officials have said that crews from New Frontier Materials were mining about 150 feet below the soccer fields and that the mines below fields three and four began having issues before the sinkhole developed.
New Frontier Materials did send engineers to the site in the wake of the sinkhole. A spokesperson said they would work with the city to remediate the issue as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. But the park remains completely closed because of the sinkhole and that has had a dramatic impact on many activities that would normally happen on these fields and throughout the park.
Mayor Goins said in a statement early in July that he is committed to making safety his top priority in moving forward and dealing with this situation.
The event is slated to happen at 10 a.m. Tuesday. A release from the mayor’s office says they are committed to providing meaningful updates and information to the public.
