7 school fields closed after topsoil found to be riddled with broken glass, plastic

At least seven school fields have been closed across the Sunshine Coast after topsoil contaminated with shredded plastic, broken glass and shards of woodwas applied over the summer.

The school district issued a notice on Tuesdaythe first day of school advising parents that fields atMadeira Park, Halfmoon Bay, West Sechelt, Davis Bay andRoberts Creek elementary schools, as well asElphinstoneSecondary School in GibsonsandtheSecheltLearning Centre, would be cordoned off.

A post from the district said a contractor was hired to apply the"topdressing" to the fields as part ofannual summer maintenance.

"It appears, however, that the soil applied was contaminated," the post read.

Jason Hainesis a professional greenskeeperat the Pender Harbour Golf Club.

He says he went to look at the damage himself after a fellow parent called him about the contaminated topsoilon Saturday.

"I didn't believe it would be that bad," he said.

Hainessaid he arrived to find chunks of hard plastic,shards of glass, pieces of ceramic,remnants of wooden pallets and shreds of plastic grocery bags embedded across thefield.

"It was horrifying... Somebody is chipping garbage into material that's being spread on the school field," he said.

"It's overwhelming to me as somebody who grows sports fields or sports turf to think about."

District Superintendent Patrick Bockingsaid staff are going to spend the week picking the trash out by hand, using rakes to comb through the fields for debris.

He said the hope is that the fields will be safe enough toreopen by Monday.

"We really have to do it step by step to clean it out. Of course it is a demand on our facilities crew, but it'swhat we have to do," Bocking said.

Redoing the sod from scratch would be a last resort, Bocking said, as it would be "extremely expensive" and take months,if not a year.

The superintendent said the district is working with its contractor to figure out what happened, noting that it's worked with the contractor in the past without issue.

Locals have been advised to stay off the fields completelyand to keep pets away from the turf.

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