About the Barge Canal
The Barge Canal is a lasting piece of the South End’s industrial heritage, and is a Superfund Site regulated by the EPA. It is made up of a number of properties: an 11-acre parcel owned by the City, and an additional 8 acres owned by private landowners closest to the railroad tracks and the water’s edge beyond. The entire collection of properties is currently zoned for conservation today, which precludes most development.
There are other private properties around the Barge Canal that are impacted by it. Some of these sites are considered Brownfield properties, and development on these sites needs to be carefully conducted so it doesn’t impact the remedy in place at the Barge Canal itself. For more information on the Pine Street Canal Superfund Site, which includes the Barge Canal itself and other private properties around it, go here.
What is happening at the Barge Canal now?
As parts of the Barge Canal have been re-naturalizing, many are eager to see the Barge Canal become more of a park, with public access from nearby properties and a stronger visual and physical connection to the lake. The City is currently working with the Vermont Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program to develop a reuse plan for publically accessible open space at the Barge Canal, including the potential donation of land at 501 Pine Street. The proposed land reuse must comply with EPA and DEC regulations.
The reuse suitability analysis is looking at: Public Safety, Remedy Compatibility, and Municipal Risk as well as more traditional suitability considerations such as Zoning, Wetlands and Ownership. This work is ongoing and updates will be provided when they become available.
It is also important to note that while the City owns 11-acres of the Barge Canal, this land was originally given to the city for the purpose of building the Champlain Parkway. The Parkway’s design has since been relocated to avoid this site; however, the City can’t make improvements to this site until the Parkway is complete.
Latest update: March 2024 Status Update Letter from EPA and DEC.
South End Area Wide Plan
Plan specifically addressing the Pine Street Barge Canal.
City of Burlington Brownfields
Learn about the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of Brownfields in Burlington.
