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Abandoned, idled or under-used
industrial and commercial facilities where expansion
or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived
environmental contamination are Brownfields. These
facilities were formerly used for manufacturing
and processing. Their size varies. They can be as
small as a half-acre site of a former gas station.
They can be as large as a multi-acre abandoned industrial
corridor. Interest in brownfield redevelopment on
national, state, and local levels has transformed
what was once a primarily environmental issue into
a public policy initiative. Brownfield redevelopment
represents social, economic, environmental and public
health challenges and opportunities. Currently,
according to a DNR estimate, there are an estimated
8000 brownfields in Wisconsin.
Initially, brownfield redevelopment,
or land recycling as it is sometimes called, was
associated with new industrial corridors and the
employment opportunities they offered. Increasingly,
a wider view of brownfield redevelopment, ties it
to mixed-use projects in line with community smart
growth plans. One goal of such plans is curbing
suburban sprawl and promoting economic revitalization
of urban areas. Recognizing the role of open space
in making communities economically and socially
sustainable, there is growing interest in redeveloping
brownfields into parks. This interest raises two
important questions. What is the open space potential
of brownfields? What is the link between open space
protection and brownfield redevelopment?
Take
Action provides neighborhood residents and associations
with a potential starting point in envisioning the
role of brownfield redevelopment in their community.
Case
studies provide examples of brownfields becoming
public open space.
Resources
provide links to information on legislative
activity, assessments, partnerships, successful
local initiatives, and funding grants and incentives.
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