A long-running cleanup is finally finished at the old Raybestos Memorial Field in Stratford, Connecticut. For decades, the ballpark sat on top of acres of toxic waste, a hidden hazard beneath a place where the community gathered. The completion marks a turning point for a site that carried a dangerous secret for years.
For people who grew up in Stratford, the field was a fixture. Many spent nights there cheering on the local championship softball team. Few realized that below the stands lay a dumping ground tied to the former plant that once operated in the area.
According to those who worked on the site, contamination from the former plant was dumped there, the ground was leveled, and the ball field was then built directly on top of it. Generations of players and fans used the field without knowing what was buried underneath their feet.
The Environmental Protection Agency oversaw the cleanup. An EPA official who managed the work said it took five years to seal and cap the contamination underground. That painstaking process was needed before the land could be considered safe for any future use.
With the contamination contained, the site is now ready for redevelopment. Local officials described a vision of attracting high-tech manufacturing to the area. Part of the plan also calls for turning space into a gallery and museum with a concession, along with an outdoor performance area at the back.
Another part of the site is set to become a new soccer complex. The plans include preserving a relic from the old Raybestos field, with officials saying they intend to restore the former scoreboard. That restoration is being pursued through the Historic Preservation Act, keeping a piece of the ballpark's history alive.
The Stratford field is part of a broader cleanup effort tied to the former plant. The EPA has said that all of the old Raymark sites should be finished by the early 2030s. For Stratford, the milestone closes one chapter of contamination and opens the door to what the community hopes will be a productive new use for the land.