Cleanup begins at toxic Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood

ISLIP, N.Y. (WABC) -- Angry residents on Long Island rallied at a town hall meeting Tuesday night, demanding answers over illegal dumping at an area park.

Residents in Islip want more transparency and community input into the cleanup at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood. Town officials said they have been completely transparent, met with several community groups and provided all the information they can.

The cleanup project began Wednesday, with the drilling of three test wells to monitor the area's groundwater, Islip Town officials said.

Three permanent groundwater wells are being put in at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood. It's the first sign of progress.

"Thank God, now they maybe finally they're going to open up the park. I'm glad. I'm happy they start working on it," said Rafele Abreu, a Brentwood resident.

The popular park has been closed since May after investigators found 50,000 tons of toxic construction debris. It included asbestos, DDT and arsenic. The Suffolk district attorney is still trying to figure out who dumped it all here.

"So as we do the remediation, we can be sure we're checking the water quality repeatedly to make sure there's no public health concern," said Tom Croci, Islip town supervisor. "Department of Health and Suffolk County Water Authority have told us there are no concerns but these test wells ensure that."

The town of Islip is working with the state to clean it all up. So while today's work may not look like much -- residents say at least it's something.

"The damage is done already. So what they're trying to do now, to start to clean it up? I hope so because I miss the park," said Elsa Morazan, Brentwood resident.

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