Macon Reporter

Senator Erica Harriss stated that her top priority following the collapse of the sinkhole at Gordon Moore Park has been "ensuring the safety of our community," noting that crews worked through the Fourth of July weekend to gather information. Harriss made this statement in a July 9 Facebook post.

"Since the sinkhole appeared at Gordon Moore Park, I've been in contact with local, state, and federal officials," said Harriss, Illinois State Senator (R), according to Facebook. "Last Wednesday's meeting provided crucial insights into the sinkhole's development and steps being taken to monitor the situation. My top priority since learning about this highly unusual event, remains ensuring the safety of our community. Crews have been working tirelessly, even through the holiday weekend, gathering data and evaluating the next steps."

On June 26, the ground of one of the soccer fields in Gordon Moore City Park in Alton, Illinois, collapsed into a 100-foot-wide, 30-foot-deep hole, taking out one of the stadium’s light poles after a mine under the park collapsed, according to an ABC7 report on June 27. The park has been declared off-limits, and events have been canceled. ABC7 reported that Governor J.B. Pritzker had called the Federal Office on Mine Safety to investigate.

Scrreenshot of Sen. Erica Harriss' July 9 Facebook post | Senator Erica Harriss' Facebook page

As of July 8, the park was expected to be closed for at least another week, according to a report from The Alton Telegraph. A meeting on July 3 involving city, state, and local officials, as well as representatives from mine owner New Frontier Materials, provided insight into the ongoing investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

"No one was injured in the collapse," said David Goins, mayor of Alton in a report published by 5 On Your Side on June 26. The same report also included a statement from New Frontier Materials about the situation.

"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. No one was injured in the incident, which has been reported to officials at the Mine Safety Health Administration in accordance with applicable regulations. 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," said an unnamed representative of New Frontier Materials.

Erica Harriss has served Illinois's 56th Senate District since 2023. She is a small business owner with experience in marketing and communications; she volunteers with local charity organizations and leads youth groups at Metro Community Church. She also served as a member of the Madison County Board for six years, representing its 26th District. Harriss holds a degree in speech communication/public relations from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is an alumna of Edwardsville High School.