Brownfield Green Space and Public Facilities Grants

NEW! Applications for Green Space and Public Facilities Grants are now available. Applications will be accepted starting January 25, 2008. The application period will remain open until February 6, 2009, or until all available funds have been awarded, whichever comes first. DNR's goal is to award half of the funds for the biennium by June 30, 2008 to qualified projects that are clearly ready to proceed with cleanup.

Thumbnails link to larger images.

The City of Delavan received a $200,000 grant to cleanup the former Borg Instruments facility in the Ann Street Railroad Corridor. After extensive demolition and remediation, the property has been transformed into a storm water retention area with walkways and meadow landscaping.

• Program Basics & Eligible Applicants
• Grant Criteria & Categories
• Grant Timeline
• Contacts
• Application & Instructions
• Reimbursement Materials
• Complete List of Grants

Program Basics & Eligible Applicants

Green Space and Public Facilities Grants help local governments and tribes clean up brownfield sites for long-term public benefits, such as parks, recreational areas, libraries and municipal garages. Eligible applicants include tribes, cities, villages, towns, counties, redevelopment authorities, community development authorities and housing authorities. To date, DNR has awarded 19 grants in two rounds of applications. The Legislature designated $1 million for these grants in the 2005-07 biennium and the same amount is included in the Governor’s proposed budget for 2007-09.

• Green Space and Public Facilities Grant Fact Sheet (RR-755) [PDF, 145KB]
• NR 173 [exit DNR], WI Admin Code, Brownfield Green Space and Public Facilites Grant Program

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Grant Criteria & Categories

• Eligible costs include remedial actions and/or costs to develop a remedial action plan.
• Site access and completed Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments are required to receive a grant.
• The site investigation (not an eligible cost) must be approved before reimbursement begins.
• The remedial action plan (eligible) must be approved before reimbursement begins.
• Non-profit organizations can be partners with local governments.
• The property must remain in public use for at least 20 years.

Please see the application form below for additional criteria.

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Grant Timeline

New! Applications will be reviewed and funded on a continuous basis from January 25, 2008 until February 6, 2009, or until all available funds have been awarded. Incomplete applications will not be funded. DNR is seeking applications that are “ready to go”, i.e. all parties are in agreement on the grant activities, the applicant is ready to start the cleanup and local funding is secured. New applications will not be accepted after February 6, 2009 so that all grant funds may be awarded prior to the end of the biennium on June 30, 2009.

* Applications will be accepted until all available funds are awarded, which may be earlier then February 6, 2009.

Looking for cleanup funding? Try our Ready for Reuse Loan & Grant Program

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Contacts

If you have questions about this program or the administrative rule, please contact Michael Prager (608) 261-4927.

If you have questions about specific sites, please contact the regional land recycling staff person in your area:
view region map

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Application & Instructions

The Round 3 application and instructions are now available.

• Brownfields Green Space & Public Facilities Grant Application for 2008-09 (Form 4400-228) [PDF, 61KB]
• Brownfields Green Space & Public Facilities Grant Application Instructions for 2008-09 (RR-695) [PDF, 197KB]

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Reimbursement Materials

In order to be reimbursed, grantees must complete and submit the following documents to the DNR grant manager:

• Brownfield Green Space and Public Facilities Grant Program - Grant Procedures
• Brownfield Green Space and Public Facilities Grant Program - Reimbursement Claim (Form 4400-234)
• Brownfield Green Space and Public Facilities Grant Program - Reimbursement Claim Worksheet (Form 4400-235)
• Brownfield Green Space and Public Facilities Grant Program - Final Report (Form 4400-236)

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Complete List of Grants

• Round 1 applicants and awards [PDF, 51KB] - Round 1 applications were due in January of 2003
• Round 2 applicants and awards [PDF, 19KB] - Round 2 applications were due March 31, 2007

Press Releases

• 1/17/07
  Governor Announces Round 2 Grant Awards
• Official Press Release from Governor Doyle
• 12/19/06
  Menomonee Valley Stormwater Park Received Award
• 5/16/06
  DNR Announces Availability of Round 2 Applications
• Official Press Release from Secretary Hassett [PDF, 23KB]
• 5/20/04
  Governor Jim Doyle announces two Department of Natural Resources grants totaling $325,000 to the City of Milwaukee to help clean up contaminated properties for public use.
• Offical Press Release from Governor Doyle's Office [exit DNR]
• 4/13/04
  DNR Secretary Hassett announces the complete list of 11 grants.
• Official Press Release from Secretary Hassett [PDF, 76KB]
• 2/10/04
  Governor Doyle announces the first two Green Space and Public Facilities grant awards to Fond du Lac and Oshkosh.
• Official Press Release from the Governor Doyle's Office [exit DNR]

Pictures of Grants being Awarded

Fond du Lac Officials receive their Green Space grant check from Governor Doyle.

Oshkosh officials recieve their Green Space grant check from Governor Doyle. (From left to right: Kristi Bales and Richard Wollangk, Oshkosh,Governor Doyle, Mayor Stephen Hintz and Jackson Kinney, Oshkosh)

Milwaukee officials receive their Green Space grant checks from Governor Doyle. Left to right: DNR Regional Director Gloria McCutcheon, Governor Jim Doyle, Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Photo by Melissa Cook, DNR.

For more information on this page contact:

Laurie Egre