Community Outreach
Since our 2007 inception, Blue Island Brownfields Initiative staff have been deeply committed to stakeholder education and involvement in brownfields related redevelopment planning. The Community Health Monitoring pilot program and Brownfields Advisory Team described below were established to increase community participation in the implementation of the City’s USEPA Brownfields grants.
Community Health Monitoring
Since 2008, the Blue Island Brownfields Initiative has been working in partnership with Agency for Toxic Disease Registry (ATSDR), Cook County Public Health Department (CCPHD), USEPA Region 5 Brownfields and Blue Island Healthy Communities to establish a Community Health Monitoring Program for the City of Blue Island.
The Community Health Monitoring program provides local residents the opportunity to identify public health and quality of life issues (such as the environment, safety, public & mental health, education, etc.) that most concern them. ATSDR is in the process of developing corresponding indicators that will allow us to measure and track improvements in the community identified issues as we move ahead with our redevelopment plans.
In summer 2010, partners intend to collect data that will form the baseline measures for each of the indicators that have been established.
Brownfields Advisory Team
In 2007, the City established a Brownfields Advisory Team ["BAT"] composed of city staff, regional agencies, and local stakeholders to guide the redevelopment activities associated with its USEPA Brownfields Assessment grants.
By participating in the Brownfields Advisory Team (BAT) members will promote and receive public comment on the identification, rehabilitation and redevelopment of redevelopment opportunity sites. As a team, they will provide guidance in areas such as future and sustainable land use, local employment opportunities, development proposals, community safety and environmental protection as they relate to Brownfields.
All community members, aldermen, business owners are welcome and encouraged to participate in the BAT. If you’re or someone you know is interested in becoming a BAT member, please email Sharon Snook.
