Turning brownfields into greenspaces: examining incentives and barriers to revitalization

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Public Policy

Background:

• Underutilized contaminated properties pose environmental and urban blight challenges.
• Greenspace creation offers ecological and community benefits but faces hurdles.
• Previous efforts to convert contaminated sites to greenspace have had mixed success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors influencing the successful conversion of underutilized contaminated properties into greenspace.
• To understand the role of contamination, site characteristics, and governance in greenspace development.
• To inform policy and practice for effective brownfield redevelopment into community assets.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mixed-methods approach combining interviews, document analysis, and a national survey.
• Surveyed local government officials to gather data on conversion project characteristics and perceived success factors.
• Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to identify significant predictors of greenspace conversion success.

Main Results:

• Contamination liability remains a concern, but site-specific and project-level factors can mitigate this.
• Conversion is more likely when recreational parks are planned, sites are already government-owned, and state support is perceived.
• Mixed public-private funding models and proximity to residential areas enhance community support for greenspace projects.

Conclusions:

• Successful greenspace conversion from contaminated sites is feasible by addressing specific barriers.
• Strategic planning, property acquisition, and supportive governance are crucial for overcoming contamination challenges.
• Community engagement, fostered by project location and funding structures, is vital for project acceptance and sustainability.