New Environmental Solutions

EPA’s land revitalization initiatives are producing significant environmental benefits and helping to transform communities into more sustainable 

and livable places. The strategy of encouraging market-driven redevelopment of brownfields and other contaminated sites for economic 

reuse is proving to be a successful approach at many sites. However, 

challenging real estate markets and economic realities can leave 

some formerly contaminated properties unused, possibly for a long 

time. New approaches are needed to revitalize these sites and protect 

human health and the environment.

EPA’s Land Revitalization Team is working with communities, states, other 

federal agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and 

the private sector to develop and test new approaches that recognize 

valuable reuse alternatives for formerly contaminated properties. Building green infrastructure to help manage stormwater runoff and floods, 

promoting safe soil management to support urban agriculture, and siting renewable energy on contaminated sites can bring environmental, 

ecological, and social benefits to communities. Unlocking the potential 

value of these underused properties often requires creativity and close 

collaboration with many public and private partners. These projects 

can help stabilize communities and spur economic development.

Land Revitalization Fact Sheet

Improving Urban Soils

Many urban areas are experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of vacant 

properties, resulting in the underuse 

of significant tracts of land. In an 

effort to revitalize these areas, communities are looking to reuse these 

properties as locations for green 

infrastructure or urban agriculture. 

Green infrastructure is a term used 

to describe an array of technologies 

and practices that use natural plantsoil systems to enhance environmental quality and provide utility services 

such as reducing stormwater runoff. 

Green infrastructure and urban agriculture require soil conditions that 

support healthy plant growth. However, urban soils often are severely 

compacted, lack sufficient organic 

matter and nutrients, contain large 

amounts of construction debris, and 

may be contaminated, making them 

unsuitable for these reuses.

The natural processes that generate 

healthy soils are often interrupted in 

an urban environment. Development 

projects use heavy equipment for 

excavation, grading, filling, paving, 

and building. These development 

activities alter the condition and 

characteristics of urban soils and 

their suitability for growing vegetation. The construction of pavements, 

bagging and removal of leaves 

and grass clippings, and removal of 

tree branches prevent the cycling of 

organic matter and nutrients back 

into the soil. In heavily urbanized 

areas such as downtowns, the most 

common soil characteristic is compaction. 

Heavily compacted soils can act like 

pavement and not readily absorb 

stormwater runoff. Compacted soils 

contain less oxygen, water, organic 

materials, and microbiological activity than natural soils. Contaminants 

that can be found in urban soils 

include heavy metals, hydrocarbons, 

and industrial chemicals. In older 

residential areas, contaminants can 

include lead paint residues, asbestos, coal and wood ash deposits, 

used motor oil residues, and pesticides. Residential areas will typically 

have less compaction and better 

quality soils than more heavily urbanized areas.

If a community plans to reuse a site 

for urban agriculture or green infrastructure, site soils will need to be 

tested to determine its suitability for 

growing plants and for potential risks 

to human health. If this evaluation 

determines that soils are unsuitable 

for the site’s intended purpose, then 

soils will need to be reconditioned 

to support plants or contamination 

will need to be removed. In general, 

the objective is to restore disturbed 

urban soils to a condition consistent 

with undisturbed soils. 

Sites intended for urban agriculture 

may need considerable reconditioning to grow crops, whereas areas 

intended for recreation (parks, playExample of of the effect of soil

compacting from foot traffic.
United States Office of Solid Waste and EPA 560-F-11-008

Environmental Protection Emergency Response April 2011

Agency (5105T) www.epa.gov/brownfields/

More Information:

Visit EPA’s green infrastructure website at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298

Visit EPA’s Land Revitalization program website at http://www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/

Cleveland Green Infrastructure Project

The Bellaire Puritas Development 

Corporation undertook a project in 

2010 to implement green infrastructure at a vacant parcel located 

at West 131st Street in Cleveland, 

Ohio. Water levels in the adjacent 

Chevy Branch stream increase 

dramatically during and after rain 

events due to runoff from impervious surfaces in the area. 

Green infrastructure was seen as 

a beneficial reuse at this location 

because retaining and infiltrating stormwater helps to reduce 

the volumes of water in the stream 

and the associated adverse water 

quality impacts. The home and 

driveway previously on this site 

had been demolished. Testing of 

soil conditions by the EPA Office of 

Research and Development found 

soils compacted and poorly suited 

for infiltrating stormwater or growing 

plants. Low levels of lead also were 

found in the soils.

Restoration activities included physically loosening the soil, removing 

debris, grading to create a swale, 

excavation to create a rain garden, 

and amending the soil with a mix of 

compost, sand, and topsoil. The rain 

garden and swale will retain runoff 

from the drainage area and reduce 

localized flooding in the area. The 

soil amendments will allow planting 

of the rain garden and swale with 

native plants and broadcast seeding 

of the remaining portions of the site 

using native grasses and flowering 

plants.

The restoration work was done by a 

private contractor and cost approximately $13,500. Signage was installed with information on the Chevy 

Branch, native plants, and green 

infrastructure. This formerly vacant 

parcel will soon be a productive and 

educational green space that helps 

to protect the surrounding residential 

area from flooding.

Partners in this project are the U.S. 

EPA, community members, Neighborhood Progress Inc. (NPI), ParkWorks, Inc., Cuyahoga County Soil 

and Water Conservation District 

(SWCD), Ohio State University, and 

the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer 

District (NEORSD). Funding for this 

project was provided by NEORSD 

and NPI.

Example of demolition debris left in 

soil following a home demolition.

grounds, hiking trails) may only need 

moderate soil reconditioning to allow 

for vegetation restoration. Urban sites 

that will be transformed into natural, 

open spaces may need the least 

amount of soil reconditioning.

A key to improving urban soil characteristics is that long-term management is needed to ensure successful 

reconditioning. Soil management is 

a dynamic process usually requiring a large initial effort with smaller 

sustained efforts to achieve a lasting 

beneficial result. Ongoing maintenance (watering, mulching, weeding) is needed to ensure the project 

performs as expected. The EPA is 

working with communities to determine best practices and strategies 

for improving urban soils.

Site after demolition.