DOVER (WJER) - The soil test results are in, and the report is good news for Dover soccer players hoping to use the new fields near Dover Chemical.

Mike McKim of AECOM recently presented to council the company’s conclusions from testing the soil at the former Becker Farm near the intersection of North Walnut Street and West 23rd Street. He says soil testing revealed no ill effects from the nearby plant and nothing harmful with regards to pesticides and other potential pollutants.

“We found concentrations of some pesticides below a residential standard and metals below residential standard and we found some arsenic below what we would consider some background,” he says.

Dover Soccer Association President John Loffredo says they’re relieved and plan to start using the fields in the spring.

"We were hoping that the results would come back clean, which they did, and the soccer community of Dover is really thankful to the city and their due diligence and 'stick-to-it-ness.' It wasn't an easy process getting to this point," he says. 

Residents can see the 117-page soil sampling report by contacting the city, which commissioned the study.

WJER RADIO