ALTON, Ill. – Vicki Plumb and her family celebrated Labor Day with a trip to the playground near the entrance of Gordon F. Moore Community Park. The Bethalto grandmother has been visiting the park in Alton for decades.
“It’s good to see people start coming back because it used to be full all the time,” Plumb said.
The park temporarily closed following the formation of a giant sinkhole caught on security cameras.
Officials said it appeared a mine collapse was to blame. Following additional testing in the park, the city was able to reopen most of the park in mid-August after officials said the Mine Safety and Health Administration deemed the area safe.
“I was a little surprised that it was open again,” Godfrey resident Brooke Arnel said. She feels confident the rest of the park is safe.
“I’m glad that we are able to get back out here and enjoy our day,” Arnel said.
Some visitors expressed mixed emotions over returning to the park.
“Some people are afraid to come out, but I see more people coming out you know each day,” Alton resident Harold Means said.
The sinkhole area remains off-limits to park visitors and there’s no timetable for when decisions will be made about what will happen with that section of the park.
