Recreational parks developed over selected sanitary landfills in Wisconsin

Abstract

The problems and solutions to the problems of recreational parks that have been developed over selected sanitary landfills were studied. One representative site from each of four districts of the Department of Natural Resources responded to an interviewed questionnaire format. Results determined that present design techniques for construction of shelters and installation of utility lines are adequate. Respondents identified differential settlement of grounds and inability to establish trees and shrubs as prevalent problems. Solutions to settlement included filling, recontouring, and reseeding. Solutions to establishing plantings included ventilation of gases, construction of retaining walls to control gases, provision of adequate soil for plantings, and selection of tolerant species. Recommendations include: complete a geological survey of the site to plan for treatment of leachate contamination of subsurface water, install monitor wells to determine subsurface water contamination, control methane gas to supply energy and heat, allow for use of adjacent lands to support buildings and groupings of trees and reduce the amount of waste deposited in a sanitary landfill by means of recycling, composting, and clean air incineration to decrease costs and make best use of sanitary landfills.