July 24. 2012 6:00AM - Last modified: July 24. 2012 6:53AM

WAUSAU - Riverfront property to undergo makeover with $200,000 EPA grant

  
The Environmental Protection Agency is giving Wausau $200,000 to clean up parts of First Street along the Wisconsin River.

Wausau's proposal to scrub petroleum-infected soil in the area, which formerly housed Cloverbelt Co-op Services, was one of 680 applications for an EPA Brownfield Program grant. Only one-fourth of the proposals actually received funding.

The grant will allow Wausau to clean up petroleum that Cloverbelt Co-op Services leaked while selling gasoline and oils at the 1202 First St. property, a news release from the city said. The property has been vacant since 2005 and the city bought the 15 acres in June 2011.

Wausau city planner Brad Lenz said the city hopes to clean up the area to make it attractive for private developers.

"It's in a great location on the river. It's a desirable property for a variety of uses," Lenz said. "We're trying to get away from industrial uses in this part of the river."

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