Brownfield sites, properties whose redevelopment may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant, are physical evidence of unresolved issues facing underserved neighborhoods. Whether the contamination is real or perceived, brownfields hinder redevelopment efforts and perpetuate the cycle of disinvestment. Working hand-in-hand with local residents through inclusive, community-driven processes, Groundwork Trusts plan and implement high-impact brownfield transformation and land-reuse projects in areas with the greatest need, transforming liabilities into community assets.
Parks. Playgrounds. Community gardens. Urban farms. Greenways for walking and biking. Restored habitat and waterways. Tree nurseries and orchards. Outdoor classrooms. Infrastructure for stormwater management. These are the kinds of assets that underserved communities need and want and that Groundwork USA helps create.
In all our brownfields redevelopment and land reuse projects, Groundwork Trusts engage local residents every step of the way, from pre-development through construction and ongoing stewardship and maintenance. Utilizing community-centered development strategies, Groundwork Trusts help communities realize their vision and ensure that redevelopment projects make our communities healthier and safer places to live, work, and play.
In neighborhoods grappling with poverty, poor health, and the legacies of pollution, Groundwork Trusts work hand-in-hand with local residents and catalyze cross-sector partnerships to turn contaminated, vacant, and derelict properties from burdens to the kinds of assets healthy communities want — and need — to thrive.
Groundwork USA approaches brownfield redevelopment as a long-term economic development strategy for underserved communities. Community-driven brownfield and vacant land re-use projects offer opportunities to counter disinvestment, foster neighborhood cohesion, and build community wealth by creating jobs, educational youth development opportunities, and multiple entry points for residents to become long-term stewards of local, favorite places.
While markets and real estate finance drive most brownfield redevelopment dollars to large downtown or waterfront projects with immediate and higher economic returns on investment, Groundwork Trusts typically work on smaller industrial sites in neighborhoods that have suffered from decades of economic decline. Groundwork Trusts pursue brownfields redevelopment projects not for the sake of immediate tax revenue or developer profit, but as place-based investments that yield a significant triple bottom line of equity, health, and economic opportunity for communities that would otherwise be left behind.
By working with underserved neighborhoods to transform brownfields and neglected properties into community assets, Groundwork Trusts help further the work of our federal partners and make their missions more visible and relevant to residents’ everyday lives.
Groundwork USA helps fulfill the EPA Brownfields Program mission on the ground:
Groundwork USA helps fulfill the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program on the ground:
