&EPA
Recreational Uses at Superfund Sites
Enhancing Health, Revitalizing Habitat
Superfund sites across the country are supporting a wide range of recreational reuses through the efforts of local
governments and communities. Recreational land uses range from parks that include amenities such as playgrounds and
sports fields to Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) flying fields. Land available for recreation is increasingly hard to come
by. Looking to cleaned up Superfund sites can be a viable option. Reusing these sites allows for properties that would
otherwise be left vacant to be reclaimed and address the health and well-being of the surrounding community. EPA's
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) is helping communities reclaim and reuse contaminated lands for a wide range of
purposes. SRI provides various tools, partnerships and activities to assist local communities pursue new opportunities to grow
and prosper.
Overview of Recreational Areas
In the summer of 2011, SRI tracked over 100 Superfund sites that are in use as recreational and ecological areas. Over 75 additional
Superfund sites are planned to be reused as recreational and ecological areas. These areas provide much needed open space and
playgrounds for communities, habitat for wildlife and encourage healthy and active lifestyles.
Recreational areas include a variety of facilities and activities that can be
utilized by communities. Activities frequently found on sites include:
•	Parks.
•	Playgrounds.
•	Trails, e.g. hiking, biking and horse trails.
« Picnic areas.
•	Sports fields, e.g. baseball, soccer, softball and
football fields.
•	Fishing ponds.
« AMA flying fields.
•	Golf courses.
•	Open spaces.
•	Ecological areas, e.g. wildlife sanctuaries,
nature preserves and wetlands.
Sites in Recreational and Ecological Reuse
Planning for Recreational Areas on Superfund Sites
Many Superfund sites are located in communities that have a lack of recreational areas and limited places to develop them. A Superfund
site, or a portion of a site, can be transformed into pocket parks, playgrounds or multiple acre open spaces. By planning ahead, the remedy
selection process can include remedial activities that will support various types of future uses, and reuse plans can specifically include the
development of recreational areas in communities where they are needed. Reuse of Superfund sites can help to discourage unwanted
activities at these otherwise underutilized properties and enhance the maintenance of the remedy by providing a constant, involved
presence at the site. EPA can work with communities to make sure that the remedy will protect future users of a recreational facility.
Pictured: A panoramic view of the Maywood Riverfront Park at the Pemaco Maywood site in Maywood, California. Source: EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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Flying Fields: Partnering to Provide New Opportunities
In 2005, EPA entered into a partnership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics. The goal of the partnership was
twofold: to provide AMA members with information regarding a site's potential to serve as a flying field, and if the site
can support recreational reuse, the AMA club helps maintain the site. Today there are eight flying fields on Superfund
sites, and EPA is working with AMA to determine the feasibility of placing flying fields on additional sites.
Pictured: A model airplane taking off
on the new flying field. Source: EPA
Pictured: Hangar 9 at the Auburn Road
Flying Field. Source: EPA
Auburn Road Landfill located in a rural residential area of
Londonderry, New Hampshire, is home to the New Hampshire
Flying Tigers, the local AMA club. In 2005, club members noticed
the vacant, fenced property and approached EPA and local official
about using the land. After numerous meetings to ensure all
parties understood the limitations and expectations involved with
using the land, the grand opening of the Auburn Road Flying Field
took place in 2008, This partnership has produced substantial
benefits for each of the stakeholders involved. The site's remedy
is enhanced by the Flying Tigers new stewardship activities,
including bringing in loam for a runway and establishing user
rules. Londonderry officials believe the site's reuse by responsible
stewards will deter trespassing, vandalism and vagrancy.The
Flying Tigers enjoy a much-needed field in a convenient location.
Parks: Outdoor Fun for Florida and California Communities
Pictured: The welcome sign for Vista View Park on the Davie Landfill
site. Source: EPA
Vista View Park: County Landfill Transforms into a
Recreational Haven
The Davie Landfill Superfund site in Davie, Florida is a
leading example of how coordination between local and
county officials and EPA can result in positive impacts for
the community. The Town of Davie worked with Broward
County, who operated a landfill on the site for two decades,
and community members to transition the Superfund site to
Vista View Park in 2003. Today the park provides 220 acres
of much needed recreational space for the growing Davie
community. The park hosts walking and fitness trails, eight
picnic shelters, two playgrounds, basketball courts, boat
rentals, an equestrian corral, an airstrip for model planes and
glider pilots, fishing docks and an area for primitive group
camping. In 2010, Region 4 presented Davie Landfill with the
Excellence in Site Reuse award, and at the award ceremony
Richard Meyers, site manager with Broward County Waste
Division commented, "This park adds tremendous value
and can just show what reuse and proper reuse of a facility
can do, going from an old landfill to a regional park of such
beauty. We're very proud of this facility."
Pictured: A community member enjoys a walking trail on the Davie
Landfill site. Source: EPA

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Other Examples of Recreational Reuse
•	Eastland Woolen Mill: Village greenspace along the river in Corrina, Maine
•	Whitmover Laboratories: Soccer fields and open space in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
•	Camilla Wood Preserving: An RV park and soccer complex in Camilla, Georgia
•	Taylor Road Landfill: AMA flying field in Hillsborough County, Florida
•	Arlington Blending & Packaging: Mary Alice Park, including a playground, field space, walking and
biking trails, exercise stations and a half-court basketball court in Arlington, Tennessee
•	H.O.D. LandfilhTennis courts, field hockey and soft ball fields, wetlands education area and
playgrounds in Antioch, Illinois
•	California Gulch: Biking and hiking trails, soccer and sports fields and wildlife habitat in Leadville,
Colorado
•	Denver Radium: Ruby Hill Park with swimming pool in Denver, Colorado
•	Jibboom Junkyard: Jibboom Street Park providing riverfront greenspace in Sacramento, California
Pemaco Maywood: Pocket Park Serves a Community in Need
The Pemaco Maywood Superfund site, located in a densely populated minority community outside Los Angeles, occupies
a 4-acre tract of land along the Los Angeles River in Maywood, California. Eight parcels along the river in Maywood,
including the four acres containing the Pemaco site, were chosen to be part of the Los Angeles River Greenway Project,
a city-wide effort to establish parks along the River. To help make the park a reality, EPA considered recreational reuse
throughout the remediation planning process. During the remedial design, the treatment facilities were strategically
placed to accommodate the development of the park. The State supplied a grant to complete construction and the City
of Maywood, the Trust for Public Land, EPA and various city and state stakeholders collaborated closely to assure that
the site remedy would be in place for park completion within the scheduled grant deadline. The Maywood Riverfront
Park opened in May 2008 and offers soccer fields, playground equipment, handball courts and basketball courts for area
residents. This recreational park is one of only two such parks available for residents of the city.
Pictured: Pemaco Maywood site during preparation for reuse.
Source: EPA
Pictured: New Maywood Riverfront Park at the Pemaco Maywood site.
Source: EPA
For More Information
For more information on Superfund redevelopment, please contact Melissa Friedland,
Superfund Program Manager for Redevelopment at friedland.melissa@epa.gov; or Frank
Avvisato, Superfund Redevelopment Project Officer at avvisato.frank@epa.gov: or visit SRI's
website at: www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recvcle.

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