Ecological/Recreational Reuse of Remediated Sites

The following provides sources of information about, and links to, projects where ecological or recreational redevelopment has occurred on remediated Superfund, Brownfields, and Underground Storage Tank (UST) sites. The primary reuse objective for most of the sites in this compilation is ecological or recreational. However, in some cases, ecological or recreational reuse may be secondary to another primary use such as commercial.

Ecological and Recreational Reuse of Remediated Superfund Sites

Army Creek Landfill, New Castle County, Delaware. Grains, wildflowers, and other carefully selected vegetation were planted to attract migratory birds for resting, nesting, and feeding In addition to the habitat for birds and wildlife, wetlands were also restored. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/armycsi.htm

Bangor Gas Works, Bangor, Maine. The city was able to build a 60,000 square foot supermarket and to use the uncontaminated portions of the site to expand a bordering recreational park. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/bangcsi.htm

Bowers Landfill, Pickaway County, Ohio. A seven-acre wetland was developed in a pit created when clay was dug up to cap a landfill on the site. The wetland functions as a buffer to protect the landfill from flooding and to prevent damage to the cap. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/bowercsi.htm

Cherokee County Galena Subsite, Cherokee County, Kansas. Native prairie grasses were used to stabilize the clean soils that were placed over mine tailings. These tall, wavy grass stands have encouraged the return of wildlife and now harbor birds and small mammals. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/chercsi.htm

Chisman Creek, York County, Virginia. This former Superfund site now houses two recreational parks: a 13-acre park with two softball fields, restrooms, and parking; and a 28-acre park that features four soccer fields, restrooms, parking, two ponds, and the county's memorial tree grove. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/chiscsi.htm

Fort Devens, Devens, Massachusetts. This former military base is on its way to becoming one of the largest redevelopment projects in Massachusetts. The redevelopment includes mixed use for government agencies and private companies, an 836-acre parcel to expand a national wildlife refuge, an army training site, and various commercial facilities. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/devecsi.htm

Kane and Lombard Streets, Baltimore, Maryland. A 20-tee driving range was built on an eight-acre portion of the site. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/kanecsi.htm

Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, Maine. Two and a half miles of stream and 50 acres of wetland were restored to their pre-disturbance condition to support a self-sustaining, uncontaminated brook trout population, and restore floodplain wetlands so that forested, scrub-shrub, and emergent plant communities could redevelop. (Contact: Michael Daly, EPA Remedial Project Manager, 617-918-1386,daly.mike@epa.gov; and Sarah White, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, 617-918-1026, Sarah White.sarah@epa.gov).

Marathon Battery, Cold Spring, New York. Part of this 60-acre former battery manufacturing site was purchased by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust to add hiking trails and canoes for public use. In addition, the Trust will renovate a 130-year old building next to the site to display ancient artifacts found during cleanup. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/1-pagers/marathon.htm

McColl Superfund Site, Fullerton, California. Once home to an open pit of acidic sludge, the McColl Superfund site now hosts inviting grass and sand traps for three holes of a local golf course. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/briefs/ca_brief.htm#ca_8

Ohio River Park, Neville Island, Pennsylvania. This site now contains a regional sports and entertainment complex where children and adults enjoy a variety of activities, including skating, baseball, basketball, volleyball, miniature golf, a fitness center, and an indoor golf driving range.
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/ohrvsi.htm

Old Works/East Anaconda Smelter, Anaconda, Montana. An award winning golf course and hiking trail was built on this former copper smelting and processing area. Golf great Jack Nicklaus helped design the course, which includes bunkers made out of charred mining wastes and old mining artifacts in the course's overall layout. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/anaccsi.htm

Northwest 58th Street Landfill, Dade County, Florida. A municipal landfill has been transformed into a beautiful wildlife refuge that includes wetlands, a large lake, nature trails, and educational tours for the public. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/briefs/fl_brief.htm#fl_6

Peterson/Puritan, Inc., Cumberland and Lincoln, Rhode Island. Six operating businesses, an industrial condominium complex, a riverside park and bike path, Little League park, and town dog pound coexist with in-place treatment systems for soil and groundwater (soil vapor extraction for soils and in situ oxidation for arsenic in groundwater), a groundwater extraction and treatment system, and natural attenuation of groundwater contaminants. The responsible parties began the construction phase of the cleanup in the fall of 1995, and completed it in January 1997. The treatment systems are expected to take from four to twelve years to complete the cleanup. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/casestud/petrsi.htm

Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Commerce, Colorado. This former location for chemical weapons and pesticides manufacturing is now a wildlife refuge for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Just 10 miles northeast of downtown Denver, the site attracts 30,000 visitors yearly to enjoy the many outdoor activities. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/1-pagers/arsenal.htm

Silver Bow Creek/Warm Spring Ponds, Butte, Montana. Wetland and riparian areas were remediated and restored to provide a habitat for more than 230 types of resident or migratory waterfowl, birds of prey, brown and rainbow trout, and terrestrial wildlife. The site is also used for low-impact recreational activities, such as catch and release fishing and hiking. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/success/1-pagers/bowcrk.htm

Ecological and Recreational Reuse of Brownfields Sites

The information on Brownfields sites linked below are from the Brownfields pilot grant programs. Some of the sites are still in the planning stage and some may have changed their plans during the course of their project. Updated information for any specific project may be obtained from the state or local contacts included in the linked documents.

Jenkins Valve, Bridgeport, Connecticut. A long-idle property is now home to a new, 5,500-seat ballpark, and will eventually include an indoor ice-skating rink and a new museum. The Zurich Re corporation invested $11 million to clean up and redevelop the site and an additional $1 million was provided by the City of Bridgeport, and $2 million by the State of Connecticut. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/ss_brdgp.htm

Sustainable Technology Park Authority, Cape Charles-Northampton County, Virginia. Approximately half of an ecological industrial park will be used for natural habitat, including the 30-acre Coastal Dune Natural Area Preserve and approximately 60 acres of other natural areas. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/ss_cape.htm

Central Massachusetts Economic Development Authority, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Through partnerships, millions of dollars were leveraged to restore an abandoned mill property into recreational greenspace. A key outcome of this effort will be a museum that celebrates the rich industrial history of Worcester. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/ss_cmeda.htm

Kalamazoo, Michigan. Nine acres of a 35-acre property will be used for greenspace, and the remainder is committed for commercial and light industrial enterprises. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/ss_klam3.htm

Lowell, Massachusetts. On the site of the former ash dump, the City of Lowell and its partners built a 6,000-seat ballpark and an 8,000-seat arena. Both facilities opened in 1998, and have created many full- and part-time jobs. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/ss_lowel.htm

Golf Courses on Brownfields Sites. Restoring brownfields into golf courses usually is part of a larger-scale recreational development project. This link describes three golf courses (Providence, Rhode Island; Houston, Texas; and Hammond, Indiana) created on urban brownfields sites. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/html-doc/ss_golf.htm

Creating Greenspace at EPA's Brownfields Pilots. This link mentions a number of Brownfields greenspace efforts. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pdf/ss_green.pdf

Ecological and Recreational Reuse of USTField Sites

The information on USTFields sites linked below are from the USTFields pilot grant programs. Most of these are still in the planning and cleanup stages and some may have changed their plans during the course of their project. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

Assunpink Creek Greenway, Trenton, New Jersey. The city plans to clean up all the brownfields properties along the 25-mile Assunpink Creek and turn the entire area into a greenway. http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/ustfield/njustfld.pdf