Village of Vinton's Community Park Site Project & EPA Brownfields Grant

The USEPA defines a Brownfield as a property, for which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence (or potential presence) of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Brownfields’ Negative Impacts on the Community

• Public health risks from exposure to existing contaminants.
• Safety risks can include illegal activity associated with abandoned sites such improper waste disposal or dumping.
• Reduced investment that leads to declining property values and decreased city tax revenues, straining the local government’s ability to provide services in brownfield communities.

Benefits of Brownfields Redevelopment

• By removing blight and facilitating environmental cleanup, redeveloping Brownfields address environmental, public health, and safety concerns.
• Redeveloping previously developed sites and reusing existing infrastructure, utilities, and roads allows open space and undeveloped land to be preserved.
• In addition, it boosts the local economy by increasing city tax revenues and improves the value of adjacent properties.

At present, the Vinton Community Park Site is undeveloped vacant land supporting native desert vegetation, with no buildings/structures present. The Site encompasses three parcels totaling 11.3 acres acquired by the Village in 1992. The Site is located in a mixed residential, commercial, and industrial area in which initial development and placement of piles of debris dates back to the mid-1960s.

For a detailed chronological timeline of the major events that have taken place at the project, as well as the most up to date Site Assessment findings, please reference the Response Action Plan and Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives documents below:

The Village’s overall objective for the affected property is to remove waste materials and impacted soils from the area to ensure no future risks to the environment or human health of our residents.

These materials will be removed and disposed of properly at an appropriate waste disposal facility, making room for the Village’s vision for the community – develop a public park

If you’d like to know more about the environmental monitoring and related measurements that are being performed by and for the Village of Vinton during the cleanup of the project site, please refer to the Quality Management Plan and Cleanup Workplan below:

From Cleanup to Community Hub: Be a Changemaker in our Park Project!

The Village of Vinton is committed to raising the community’s awareness and providing opportunities for public participation and engagement regarding the Brownfields cleanup and vision to redevelop the Vinton Community Brownfields Site project as a future public park and community center.

Through this Community Involvement Plan found below, the Village will ensure that the communication process is ongoing, evolving, and information is available as this critical community project moves forward with opportunities to keep the public informed through various forms including, but not limited to:

• Webpage for project news, updates, educational materials, and other information
• Press releases to local newspaper and media
• Village of Vinton social media pages
• Public meetings

Join us at our kick off public meeting at Vinton City Hall, 436 E. Vinton Rd on Wednesday, September 25 at 6pm where the project team will provide all attendees with a brief presentation, project updates, and give an opportunity for residents to provide public comment.

The four-year U.S EPA Cooperative Agreement, found in the link below, showcases the funding provided to the Village of Vinton under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to conduct remediation activities on the project site mentioned above as authorized by CERLCA 104(k)(3) in Texas.

Since 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program has grown into a proven, results-oriented program that has changed the way communities address and manage contaminated properties. The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded millions of dollars to local governments to enhance local brownfields programs throughout the country. The program is designed to empower states, tribes, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.