Brownfields

Chinese morel mushrooms growing on a log with green leaves.

Fungi to the Rescue: How Mushrooms Are Helping Clean Up Toxic Lands

Fungi are emerging as powerful tools in environmental cleanup, with scientists and community leaders using mushrooms to break down pollutants and restore contaminated soil.

June 10, 2025 - Smithsonian Magazine

Mycena stipata, commonly known as clustered pine bonnet, mushroom from Finland growing out of the end of a log.

Bioremediation for Environmental Justice

Bioremediation uses plants, fungi, and microbes to clean up polluted land in place, offering a nature-based option for restoring contaminated sites in overburdened communities.

May 26, 2025 - Progressive City

Abandoned industrial factory site.

Wisconsin Awarded $12 Million for Brownfield Redevelopment Amid Broader EPA Budget Cuts

The EPA provided the funding to Wisconsin for brownfield cleanups in cities like Milwaukee and Racine, even as broader agency budget cuts under the Trump administration raise concerns about future environmental protection capacity.

May 19, 2025 - Urban Milwaukee

Regeneration of contaminated industrial land used for waste dumping, West Midlands, UK, 2006 .

EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites

The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.

May 18, 2025 - Environmental Protection

Aerial view of oil field in California with pumpjacks at sunset.

From Blight to Benefit: Early Results From California’s Equitable Cleanup Program

The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.

April 10, 2025 - The Othering & Belonging Institute

Fence with barbed wire and For Sale sign around vacant field.

From Brownfields to Community Assets: A Conference on Land Revitalization

The 2025 California Land Recycling Conference (CALRC) will convene experts in Carson, CA, from September 16-18 to discuss brownfield redevelopment, sustainability, and equitable land reuse, with session proposals open until March 31, 2025.

February 3, 2025 - Center for Creative Land Recycling

Aerial view of construction site with yellow dump truck and heavy machinery.

National Brownfields Training Conference: Driving Sustainable Redevelopment

The conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and resources for the remediation and sustainable redevelopment of contaminated properties, fostering economic growth and environmental restoration.

December 31, 2024 - Brownfields 2025 Conference

Large store in mall with yellow and black STORE CLOSING sign on front.

Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks

Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.

December 8, 2024 - Ruscena Wiederholt

Abandoned oil well against hill covered in blooming orange flowers in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California.

Plugging the Gap: Taxpayers Shoulder the Burden of Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells

Taxpayers, federal agencies, and tribal governments are working to address Arizona's orphaned oil and gas wells, which pose environmental and health risks, while advocates call for greater accountability from oil and gas companies.

December 2, 2024 - Cronkite News

CLeveland, Ohio downtown skyline seen from grassy field.

Ohio Invests $58 Million to Revitalize Brownfields and Boost Local Economies

This investment in brownfield remediation will clean up hazardous sites, foster economic development, and create jobs through 61 new projects across 33 counties.

December 2, 2024 - Office of Governor Mike DeWine

Gas Works Park with old, rusty coal gasification equipment in Seattle, Washington.

Revitalizing Cities Through Soil Health, Green Spaces, and Nature-Based Remediation

Investing in soil health, urban parks, and nature-based solutions for brownfield remediation is essential for creating resilient cities, restoring ecosystems, and improving community well-being.

November 26, 2024 - Center for Creative Land Recycling

Bird's eye schematic of Puente Hills Landfill Park redevelopment project.

Trash to Treasure: New Park Set to Redefine Open Space in the San Gabriel Valley

Puente Hills Landfill Park, opening in 2027, will transform a former landfill into a regional park with trails, scenic vistas, and various amenities, addressing environmental justice and providing much-needed green space for the San Gabriel Valley.

November 25, 2024 - Streetsblog LA

Black and white photo of Taylor Yard site in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles River in the 1890s.

Fundraising Begins for Development of 100-Acre Park in Los Angeles

River LA has launched a capital campaign to develop the 100-acre Taylor Yard Park, featuring amenities like a welcome pavilion, wetlands, and a pedestrian bridge, with completion costs estimated at over $1 billion.

October 21, 2024 - Urbanize LA

Aerial view of Sunnyvale Bay Trail on top of former landfill. Scenic view of San Francisco Bay with levees, salt marshes and sloughs.

Insights and Innovations from the California Land Recycling Conference

The 2024 CLRC showcased innovative strategies for transforming brownfields into sustainable, equitable community assets, emphasizing environmental, social, and economic empowerment through land reuse.

October 14, 2024 - Center for Creative Land Recycling

Aerial view of Puente Hills landfill on green hill in Los Angeles County, California.

Puente Hills Landfill Redevelopment Plan Wins Award for Transformative, Climate-Responsive Design

This project to transform a former landfill into a climate-resilient public space has won the 2024 Global Impact Award from ASLA and IFLA for its innovative, community-driven design that addresses environmental and social challenges.

September 15, 2024 - American Society Of Landscape Architects

Aerial view of brownfield area with digger loading a dump truck.

Revitalizing Toxic Sites Using Fungi and Plants

Fungi and plants are being used to detoxify polluted sites, turning hazardous brownfields into vibrant meadows and empowering communities with eco-friendly remediation skills.

July 11, 2024 - Yale Environment 360

View of Puente Hills landfill site in Los Angeles County.

California Allocates $12.5 Million for Landfill-to-Park Transformation

The grant will help to convert a 142-acre site, a portion of the former Puente Hills Landfill, into Los Angeles County's first new regional park in over 30 years.

June 27, 2024 - Waste Today

Vacant lot with overgrown concrete foundation

Carson to Host California Land Recycling Conference

In September 2024, the Center for Creative Land Recycling will hold its annual conference in Carson, California, offerings opportunities to learn about the reuse of underutilized and contaminated properties.

March 11, 2024 - Center for Creative Land Recycling

Vacant lot with overgrown concrete foundation

The Double-Edged Sword of ‘Healthfields’

Building hospitals and other health-oriented facilities on former brownfield sites can benefit the community, but can also perpetuate historic inequities and exploit undervalued land at the expense of local residents.

July 19, 2023 - Next City

Abandoned, decaying building behind locked chain link fence in Atlanta, Georgia

Map Identifies DeKalb County Brownfield Sites

The GIS tool is designed to help developers find vacant and blighted lots that could be restored for new housing or other uses.

July 12, 2023 - Urbanize Atlanta

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.