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my house is the jogging track, which before I moved here was dug up due to the asbestos in the ground. As of now there is a sign at the foot of the hill that says no digging because the asbestos in only buried 2 feet under ground and if any disturbances are noticed to call the city at this #456-9400. 

I have called numerous times over the past two months to report that there are many groundhogs living on/in the hill with numerous holes. The groundhogs are obviously digging holes deeper than 2 feet. Since I did not live here when the asbestos was found and taken care of I am not aware of the complications from exposure to this. I have 3 small children that play on the hill on a daily basis.

The groundhogs are now becoming a problem for other neighbors, several of

which now have groundhogs living in their yards.

On top of the groundhogs we have beavers that are taking down trees at an astounding rate. The tree stumps are than left in a point which poses a hazard should someone fall on one. My husband has gone up there to try and cut the points down but we have had thecops called on us, so I again called the city so they could be made aware of this but again no answer.

I am not even sure if the city would be able to help but I am sure they could point me in the right direction."

PHOTO of one of the holes the groundhog (s) use for a home

According to Wikipedia groundhogs are excellent burrowers, using burrows for sleeping, rearing young, and hibernating. The average groundhog has been estimated to move approximately 1 m³ (35 cu ft), or 320 kg (710 lb), of dirt when digging a burrow. Though groundhogs are the most solitary of the marmots, several individuals may occupy the same burrow. Groundhog burrows usually have two to five entrances, providing groundhogs their primary means of escape from predators. Burrows are particularly large, with up to 14 metres (46 ft) of tunnels buried up to 1.5 metres (5 ft) underground, and can pose a serious threat to agricultural and residential development by damaging farm machinery and even undermining building foundations. ^{For more info on groundhogs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog}

I interviewed Ms. Whiting at the park. As she showed me around every once in a while a groundhog could be seen scurrying about. There is also a litter of young groundhogs in the same area.

PHOTO: One of the groundhogs living at University Avenue Park in Gloucester City

A phone call to the number provided on the sign, 456-9400 is answered by a machine located at the Gloucester City Fire Department. One of the extensions is for the emergency management department headed part time by Bob Saunders. 

Saunders said when the park was built a layer of 80 mil polyurethane was put in place just for that purpose, to keep rodents from burrowing into the asbestos that is buried in the ground. He said that the Camden County Board of Health along with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has been contacted. “Both departments will inspect the park to make sure the asbestos hasn’t been disturbed.”

The park was built in the 1990’s on top of an old asbestos dump that was used by GAF back when the factory was active in Gloucester City.

It was a story written by this reporter so many years ago on that abandon dump that resulted in the remedial work to cap the contaminant along with the construction of the park. Residents in the immediate area also received a settlement paid by GAF.

Photo of gnawed tree trunks believed to be created by a family of hungry beavers living in nearby Little Timber Creek.

Asked why the asbestos wasn’t removed altogether, Saunders said it was too dangerous to remove the asbestos as there was no way to stop it from becoming airborne thus spreading through the adjoining residential area and for miles around. Saunders said GAF paid for the remedial work.

UPDATE: Last week the run down park located at Washington Avenue and Little Somerset Street was featured on CNB and in the Gloucester City News, May 13^th issue.

Today in response to those photos that were labeled “Once A Playground?” Gloucester City Public Works Supervisor Steve Cianchetti said, “I am addressing the problem.”

First, the abandoned cars “were addressed to the police,” Cianchetti said. “We are going to re-do that park. There will be action taken within the next two weeks.”

As for the tree, “We are currently getting three quotes to take it down. We (Public Works) may end up taking it down ourselves,” he said.

Photos provided by Michelle Whiting (click on photos to enlarge)