BRS Projects

Trenton Assunpink Greenway

The Assunpink Greenway is an expansive, 99-acre linear park project adjacent to the Assunpink Creek, running through an impoverished section of the City of Trenton, NJ.

History

The project area included former industrial properties held by public and private owners. Transforming this large, contaminated, flood-prone area into a greenway is a long-term and ambitious task. BRS obtained all funding for and managed the entire project, including:

• The use of over $5 million in U.S. Economic Development Administration grant funding, $1.6 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants, and approximately $10 million in NJ Department of Environmental Protection Agency grants, and
• Overseeing subcontractors and area environmental assessment activities, including the former railroad maintenance yard abutting Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line.

BRS’s role:

• Managed the acquisition process, including foreclosure, condemnation, and purchase of properties;
• Conducted community outreach in a cooperative fashion and educated owners and residents alike regarding issues;
• Obtained and coordinated aid offered by the various local, state, and federal entities involved in the project, including Mercer County, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration;
• Secured more than $13 million toward investigation, remediation, and redevelopment project grants;
• Coordinated a Steering Committee comprised of funders, government regulators, community groups, and other stakeholders;
• Prepared contractor bid specifications and/or professional services requests for proposals for identification and selection of contractors to implement work;
• Coordinated and oversaw asbestos removal, demolition, and environmental assessment and remediation on multiple sites; and
• Worked with engineers and landscape architects to plan for building and site reuse.

Learn more about our Brownfields, Planning, and Funding Services.