A New Chapter for Bingham Park: Greensboro’s Comprehensive Remediation Plan
Greensboro is embarking on an ambitious project to transform Bingham Park, a site previously built on an unregulated landfill in the 1970s, through a structured five-phase plan aimed at eliminating toxic waste. This park, once central to neighborhoods in East Greensboro, was closed to the public in 2024. Initially, there were plans to simply cap and cover the site, but following community feedback, the city has shifted to a complete remediation strategy.
“We have an opportunity to do something that hasn’t been done before,” stated Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Kobe Riley during a community meeting. “We can, in effect, right a historic wrong.”
The comprehensive project will proceed in phases, reflecting the extensive nature of the task. The initial phase, estimated at $17 million, will focus on extracting hazardous waste and relocating it to a landfill in Asheboro.
While some residents at the meeting expressed approval of the city’s commitment to a thorough remediation, there remain concerns about the phased strategy and the process’s transparency. Cheryl Johnson, part of the Bingham Park Environmental Justice Team, supports the plan but emphasizes the necessity for the city to maintain open dialogue with the community throughout the remediation process. “I think a good part of rebuilding that trust is going to be for them to truly engage with the people during the five-part process of remediation, to let people know that we’re still hearing you,” she noted.
Johnson also advocates for studying the long-term health impacts on residents potentially exposed to the park’s conditions over the years.
City officials anticipate the completion of the first phase by 2028, marking the beginning of Bingham Park’s transformation and the city’s commitment to addressing environmental justice concerns.
