A massive sinkhole, approximately 100 feet wide and 50 feet deep, opened up in the middle of a soccer field at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Illinois on June 26, 2024. The sinkhole occurred due to a mine collapse deep underground.
According to reports from local media outlets, including Fox Weather and the Belleville News-Democrat, the mining company responsible for the mine collapse is New Frontier Materials in St. Louis.
The Alton School District has filled the void left by the sinkhole to facilitate events at least for the summer. The park remains closed indefinitely while investigations continue.
No one was on the field at the time of the collapse, and no injuries were reported. However, all scheduled events at Gordon Moore Park have been canceled as a result of the incident.
The exact cause of the mine collapse is not yet known, but it is believed to have occurred deep underground. The sinkhole has destroyed a section of the soccer field, including a light pole and benches made from artificial turf.
This is not the first time that Gordon Moore Park has been affected by mining activities. In 2013, a nearby mine collapse caused subsidence in the park, resulting in damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Mine collapses are a known risk associated with underground mining operations. They can occur suddenly and without warning, making them a significant safety concern for communities located near mining sites.
The Alton community is working closely with New Frontier Materials to investigate the cause of the sinkhole and to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
