Two juveniles are in custody after being connected to an explosion that damaged a building at the Northwest Jefferson County Sports Complex, 4900 Byrnesville Road, in House Springs. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said.
He said the juveniles’ names, ages and towns would not be released. He said juvenile authorities are holding both boys as of today, July 28.
The first boy was arrested on July 19. The second boy turned himself in to authorities with a lawyer present on Thursday, July 27, Marshak said.
“There is still more work to be done,” he said. “We have two juveniles in custody, but the investigation is not done.”
A deputy was called to the park at 10:43 p.m. July 4 for a fireworks-related complaint. When the deputy arrived, he saw the building where two restrooms, a concession stand and a utility room were housed was damaged, the Sheriff’s Office previously reported.
The deputy did not see anyone near the building, but he did see fireworks debris in the area, the report said.
Tim Pigg, director of the county Parks and Recreation department, estimated it would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to replace the building with a prefabricated structure.
The park remains closed following the explosion so the remains of the building can be razed and cleared safely, Pigg said July 28. The county’s on-call demolition service, Precision Lawncare & Landscaping, will complete the project.
Before the building can be cleared, Pigg said the department first must complete the “tedious” task of lifting slabs of concrete and debris to take photos for the county’s insurance company. Once the photos are taken, the work will move quickly, he said.
“We need to sit down and discuss what we want to do going forward with the space,” Pigg said.
When the park reopens, temporary portable toilets will be brought in to replace the restrooms lost in the explosion, Pigg said. He said the park will be open in time for youth soccer games, which begin in the fall.
The Sports Complex is a 20-acre facility with four baseball fields, a walking trail, a skate park, a pavilion, picnic tables and restrooms. Youth instructional soccer, T-ball, adult softball and other sports activities are held at the complex, according to the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation website.