Should the Alameda High School softball field be reopened? Alameda County Public Health Department is considering it, and is asking the community to help decide, according to a City of Alameda report [1] on Facebook.
[2]The field was closed due to possible soil contamination discovered when the swim center replacement project began in the southeastern corner of the high school campus, according to an Alameda County Environmental Health Department (ACEHD) report [3] issued in April 2025.
Investigators then conducted a campus-wide risk assessment that included the area of the softball field. According to the City, the assessment concluded that the metals and petroleum found in the soil samples at the softball field do not pose a significant human health risk to students, staff, or maintenance workers.
Now the Health Department is considering reopening the softball field. What do you think? Should they reopen it or keep it closed?
Commenters on the City’s Facebook report offered a variety of opinions. One posted, “If it’s toxic = they can’t use the field. If it’s safe = play.” Some echoed that opinion, while others had more to say, such as, “This is what happens when you just decide to build whatever on top of dirt that was most likely never checked for nasty stuff before you built it.”
Share your opinion with the Health Department to help inform their decision.
How to participate
Comments may be shared by mail, phone, email, or at a virtual community meeting, as follows:
- Mail – Send your written comments by 5 p.m. on September 22 to Tracy Craig, Community Outreach, 1900 Powell Street, Suite 700, Emeryville, CA 94608.
- Phone – Call 510-334-4866 (24/7).
- Email – [email protected] [4].
- Virtual community meeting – Thursday, September 4, 6 to 7 p.m. Join online [5].
Stay tuned for the final decision.