Project Background:

CMC Heartland is an 18-acre vacant property located along the Pecatonica River in Freeport, Illinois. Originally owned 

by the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad, the property contained rail yard passenger and freight depots and 

spurs serving coal and lumber businesses in the late 1800s. As time passed, the railroad reportedly leased portions of 

the property to lumber yards, coal businesses, bulk petroleum distributors, stockyards, beer distributors, icehouses, and 

grain companies. Historically, a railroad roundhouse was also present. The Assessment Pilot funded a Phase I assessment 

that was completed in February 2002, which indicated that a Phase II assessment was necessary. The Phase II assessment 

was completed in late 2003 revealing petroleum contamination in the soil, ground water and surface water. The city took 

ownership of a portion of the site in 2003 from Adair Asset Management and took full ownership of the property in 2004.

key accomPlishments:

	Removed six underground storage tanks and cleaned up a highly 

contaminated bulk petroleum plant. 

	Leveraged approximately $150,000 for cleanup and 

redevelopment activities. 

	Cleanup of this property serves as a critical piece to making the 

Pecatonica Prairie Path—which is currently impassable across the 

Pecatonica River—continuous and accessible by bike and foot. 

outcome: 

Completed on May 1, 2007, cleanup activities included the removal of six 

underground storage tanks (USTs) and 1,425 cubic yards of contaminated 

soil. CMC Heartland is designated to become part of the Pecatonica Prairie Path project, which involves the development 

of a 28.3-mile country trail linking Rockford and Freeport, Illinois. Cleanup of the property allows the regional Pecatonica 

Prairie Path recreational trail to extend through Freeport, connecting the community with the regional trail network. 

Additionally, a bridge will connect CMC Heartland to Tutty’s Crossing Trailhead across the Pecatonica River. This bridge 

will create a pedestrian and bicycle connection for the City of Freeport and area residents. Construction of the bridge is 

expected to be complete by the end of 2010.

Removal of underground storage tank at former bulk petroleum plant.

Former Brownfield to Become Part of 23.8-Mile Country Trail Project

brownfields at-a-glance

CMC HEARTLAND

Freeport, IL

Assessment and Cleanup Grants

EPA-560-F-10-219

June 2010

FoR MoRE INFoRMATIoN: Visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ or call EPA Region 5 at (312) 886-3058

address: 16, 100, and 130 North Henderson Avenue, 

Freeport, IL 61032

ProPerty size: 18 acres

Former uses: Railroad yard, bulk petroleum facilities, lumber yards, 

coal businesses, stockyards, beer distributors, icehouses, 

freight depots, agri-business, vinegar and yeast manufacturers, 

grain companies, canning factory, mattress factory 

current uses: Designated to become part of the Pecatonica Prairie 

Path project 

ePa grant reciPient: Project Partners:

The City of Freeport received a $200,000 

Assessment Pilot in 2001, a $200,000 Assessment 

Grant in 2003, and a $200,000 petroleum EPA 

Brownfields Cleanup Grant in 2004.

Pecatonica Prairie Path 

Commission For additional data and geographic information for this and

other Brownfields Grants, please visit EPA’s Cleanups in

My Community - http://iaspub.epa.gov/Cleanups/