Brownfields
Success Story
Ryan Park
Norwalk, Conn.
A site once contaminated by the chemicals from a former manufacturing
complex, Ryan Park is now host to walking paths and open space along
the banks of the Norwalk River in South Norwalk, Conn, fondly referred to
as SoNo by residents. This beautifully restored park is close to downtown
Norwalk, a community settled in 1649 and now in the New York
metropolitan area. Historical maps indicate Ryan Park and the
surrounding area were once mud flats and marsh lands associated with
the nearby Norwalk Harbor until the area was filled and then developed
sometime before 1884. A fur dress and hat manufacturing company
previously resided on the site in 1922 along with other industrial
occupants such as a rubber manufacturer, a machine shop, a chemical
company and a junk yard. By the 1950s, most of the large industrial
buildings were demolished, and only residential and commercial
properties remained. By 1991, all former site buildings were removed,
and the public park was created. Flooding frequently plagued the area,
however, with the most severe damage associated with Super Storm
Sandy in October of 2012. The desire to revitalize and enhance SoNo was
developed out of a vision created by residents, local businesses and
elected officials through a 2012 HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative
planning grant that focused on climate resiliency, improving the
neighborhood, and meeting community needs.
Priming the Property for Redevelopment
The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency received an EPA community-wide
assessment grant in 2014, The agency used $173,000 of this funding to assess
the park as well as the city's 4.78-acre housing complex, Washington Village,
the city's oldest housing complex, and to create a cleanup and reuse plan for
the park. This plan included raising the elevation to provide dry egress for the
neighborhood during storms. During the grant-funded sampling activities in
2016, polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, petroleum
compounds, and metals were found to be prevalent at Ryan Park. As a result,
the only recreational space in SoNo had to be closed in December of 2016
due to levels of PCBs above state standards. In March of 2017, a $2 million-
dollar grant was awarded by the Connecticut Department of Economic and
Community Development for cleanup work. By late 2018, the cleanup was
completed by removing over 10,000 tons of contaminants and constructing a
soil cap. During this cleanup, three underground storage tanks were
unexpectedly discovered. Thanks to the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency's
Brownfields grant, the tanks were assessed and removed with EPA funding
and without delaying the cleanup. By 2020, Ryan Park reopened to the public
and was once again available to the community.
EPA Grant Recipient:
Norwalk Redevelopment Agency
Grant Type:
Community-wide Assessment
Current Use:
Park and open space
Former Use:
Manufacturing Complex
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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Today
Ryan Park boasts renewed landscaping, ample lighting, two new
playgrounds, an open field area, walking paths, a splash pad, basketball
courts, a picnic/gathering area and event pavilion as well as a sculpture
garden. The $200M redevelopment of Washington Village, now known as
Soundview Landing, is now complete and includes 273 newly constructed
units with on-grade parking underneath the housing complex to raise the
residences above the flood plain and provides mixed-income housing,
including affordable, workforce and market-rate units. The housing complex
is within the Transit-Oriented Development District with access to public
transit improving access to jobs and services. Thanks to the partnerships
mentioned and a vision for a more sustainable city, Ryan Park and SoNo are
a place for all to enjoy, further promoting community values and meeting its
resiliency and neighborhood needs.
"Ryan Park, the primary open
space in South Norwalk,
needed active programming
and improved amenities to
increase the value of the park
to the community. Frequent
flooding would virtually
eliminate the usability of the
park, and limit access to open
space for local residents. With
the generous support of the
EPA, CT DECD, and HUD, the
Norwalk Redevelopment
Agency in partnership with the
City of Norwalk and Norwalk
Housing Authority, has been
able to transform this once
neglected park into a storm
resilient urban oasis."
Tami Strauss, Deputy Director
Norwalk Redevelopment Agency
For more information:
Visit the EPA Brownfields website at
www.epa.gov/brownfields or contact
Joe Ferrari at 617-918-1105 or
Ferrari.joe@epa.gov.
EPA 560-F-20-174
May 2020

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