The City of Portland will hold a public meeting on May 22 regarding a proposed cleanup project of some contaminated soil that was unearthed at Fitzpatrick Stadium during renovations there. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at the parking lot of the stadium, located at 165 Park Avenue.

The meeting is a follow-up to the previous April 25 informational letter that the City shared with the Portland Public Schools community about the contaminated soil, currently secured in a separate area on the site.

In that communication, the City said the soil was urban fill material that was found in subsurface soils beneath a paved roadway excavated during renovations. These soils did not come from under the playing surface of the field or other areas where people gather, the City said.

It said the excavated soil is currently stockpiled on site and securely covered and enclosed with fencing, in accordance with Maine Department of Environmental Protection rules. According to the City, it is not uncommon to find urban fill in construction projects throughout Portland. Laboratory results confirmed that the material is consistent with typical urban fill commonly found in the Portland area and does not present any unusual environmental hazards, the City said.

To facilitate proper off-site disposal of the excavated material, the City has successfully secured $205,000 in federal grant funding through the Greater Portland Council of Governments. The City said the removal and disposal of the contaminated soil will be done in accordance with applicable environmental regulations and is scheduled to take place in June 2025.

Scroll below to read the City’s April 25 letter to the PPS community and the City’s public notice of the May 22 meeting, which includes information on how to make public comment regarding the cleanup project.