100-foot sinkhole swallows soccer fields, light pole

A massive sinkhole opened underneath an Illinois park on Wednesday, swallowing portions of two adjacent soccer fields, officials said.

Surveillance video showed a light pole between the two artificial turf fields sinking into the ground at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Ill., on Wednesday morning, and a cloud of dirt rose as the chasm opened. The hole was approximately 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep.

No one was using the fields or injured in the collapse, which is being investigated in connection with an underground mine operated in the area, according to city officials.

“Gordon Moore Park is temporarily closed while the sinkhole investigation is being completed. Any scheduled events within the park are cancelled for today,” Alton Parks and Recreation said in a statement Wednesday. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”

The mine is reportedly owned by New Frontier Materials and operated by Bluff City Minerals.

“The New Frontier Materials underground mine in Alton, IL today experienced a surface subsidence and opened a sink hole at Gordon Moore City Park,” New Frontier Materials spokesman Matt Barkett said in a statement. “The impacted area has been secured and will remain off limits for the foreseeable future while inspectors and experts examine the mine and conduct repairs.”

Barkett confirmed no one was injured in the collapse, and said the incident was reported to the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA).

“Safety is our top priority. We will work with the city to remediate this issue as quickly and safely as possible to ensure minimal impact on the community,” Barkett said.

Along with Gordon Moore Park, the Spencer T Olin Golf Course has also been temporarily closed to the public.

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