The Borough of Red Bank is reclaiming its largest brownfield—the 8.6-acre former Sunset Avenue Incinerator and Landfill—to create a public waterfront park and riverfront trail. Active for over 50 years before closing in 1983, the site left behind soil and groundwater contamination that impacted the Swimming River, local ecosystems, and public health. Located within an Environmental Justice community and a Qualified Opportunity Zone, the project will turn a neglected site into safe, accessible open space that reconnects residents to the river.
VHB is leading the cleanup by providing Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) services, auditing past assessments, developing remedial scopes, and supporting grant applications. In collaboration with the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), VHB implemented a Remedial Investigation Workplan and secured over $200,000 in Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) grants. Remedial actions include capping the site and mitigating environmental and ecological impacts from historic incinerator waste.
Redevelopment will feature wetland restoration, living shorelines, reforestation, and stormwater management to protect habitats, improve water quality, and enhance climate resilience. The transformation will expand recreational access, support community health, and foster lasting economic and environmental benefits for the community.
