Property That Will Become Public Park Awarded Grant Money In New London

NEW LONDON, CT — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Brownfield Grant Program is providing a $250,000 grant to the city of New London to support the cleanup of a key property expected to be turned into a public park, according to a statement from Sen. Martha Marx (D-New London).

The City of New London will receive the grant to conduct cleanup activities at 43 Hempstead St., which will support city plans to redevelop the 0.6-acre property into a public park.

"These funds will play a key role in cleaning a vacant property with plans to beautify it and provide new recreational resources for the people of New London," Marx said in a statement. "I'm encouraged to see continued progress of this work and am grateful to state leaders for continuing to support our great city."

The city previously received a grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to support abatement of hazards at the site, which is currently a vacant lot. Cleanup is necessary at the site because it has a history of being used for industrial operations and other pollutive activities, with underground storage tanks and polluted fill material seen at the property, according to New London documents.