EUGENE, Ore. — Contamination at Trainsong Park off Highway 99 in Eugene is more extensive than first believed, with testing showing pollutants reaching well below the surface.
Samples were initially taken in 2020 and 2021 by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, where high levels of dioxins were detected. Dioxins are a pollutant that can cause cancer. The park has been closed for nearly four years and has only been partially reopened during that time.
In 2024, the EPA granted the city of Eugene more than $1.5 million to help replace much of the soil and mulch in the park. But as crews prepared to replace that soil, additional testing indicated the toxins extended beyond the surface…