Remediating former brownfield sites to create parks and community spaces can be challenging, but there are funding sources available that can make these projects possible. Some projects are even able to incorporate other community benefits. Join us to learn more about projects that have successfully funded transforming brownfields into parks.
Moderator: Stephen Burrington, Executive Director, Groundwork USA
Speakers
- Kate O’Brien, Principal, Catalyst Collaboratives
- Lesly Melendez, Deputy Director, Groundwork Lawrence, MA
- Ann Carroll, EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Kate and Lesly will present a case study of the Scarito Park project in Lawrence, Massachusetts, focusing on the approach the Groundwork Lawrence team took to finance the project start to finish. This included community organizing, delivering a mandate from the community to City Hall, and developing partnerships with local government to secure state and federal funding, which was all leveraged by philanthropic dollars. This initial brownfields-to-park project paved the way for many more such projects in Lawrence in the years since.
Ann will introduce some brownfield basics from the US EPA Office of Brownfield and Land Revitalization. She will touch on types of brownfield grants and technical assistance and share examples of past brownfield conversions to parks.
Continuing Education Credits Available:
- AICP
- LACES
The 2019 webinar series on funding is made possible with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Photos courtesy of Groundwork Lawrence.
To learn more about equitable funding strategies for parks, including brownfield conversions, view our recent report from Urban Institute here.
