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ALTON — The city park damaged by a massive sinkhole and the mine that partially collapsed underneath it both remain closed, as an ongoing investigation into the cause continues with no set timeline for either to reopen. New Frontier Materials owns the mine that caved in June 26 and left a 100-foot-wide hole in the middle of several soccer fields. It has since widened because of rain.

The company is drilling in the mine , part of a limestone quarry, and following directions from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, which will evaluate the data, said Matt Barkett, a spokesperson for New Frontier, in an email. A soccer goal has begun slipping into a hole caused by a June 26 mine collapse under the Gordon Moore Park athletic fields in Alton, as rainwater fills the hole on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. In the meantime, some New Frontier employees have been redeployed to different mining operations, while others are working at non-mining tasks, Barkett said.



Local sports leagues and summer camps have also had to make adjustments following the collapse. An Alton Parks and Recreation tennis camp was relocated to Lewis and Clark and Community College and the city’s day camp moved to the Riverfront Park Place Pad. The Alton Renegades youth football and cheerleading team is searching for a new field after the damage caused by the 50-foot deep collapse left their home field unplayable.

According to its GoFundMe, the nonprofit aims to raise $10,000 to rent another home field.

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