The Season of Champions

This is the season of champions. Every sport — basketball, thoroughbred horse racing, tennis, baseball, hockey, soccer — is crowning a new champ or getting ready to. It is also the time of year for vacations, and there is usually one person in the family or group who champions which vacation spot to select for the summer getaway, makes the plans, and gets everyone ready to go, go, go.

Not to be left out of the fun, Brownfield News hereby unveils its tribute to the unsung heroes and heroines of the brownfield world. The first Brownfield Champion was awarded on May 31, 2006, in Mantua, New Jersey, at the completion of the inaugural STAMP event.

As you arrive at your ultimate vacation destination, selected by your vacation champion, sit back, relax and find out what STAMP stands for by going to the Eastern Report on page 24. Soak in the sun and read more about Michelle Brunner, the first recipient of the award. And, get out that “Wish You Were Here” postcard to send this ode to your own brownfield champion!

Ode to the Brownfield Champions
I went back to my old hometown,
and took a look as I walked around,
and found, to my dismay,
the land of my youth in economic decay.

The jobs had long blown out of town,
and all the industry was closed down.
The soil and water had seen better days,
pollution was the only tenant that had stayed.
What could I do to save this town,
where my father and I played ball and drove around?
I called a friend who was good with a pen, an architect,
an engineer, a consultant, too.
This was the start of my redevelopment crew.

I needed funds to clean and build,
but all the bankers turned me down.
Everywhere I looked, no loan could be found.
Just before my idea was dead,
an angel blessed the vision in my head.
A little equity began to grow,
government incentives even showed.

A champion can turn a town around,
and build a future where others frown.
Persistence and patience, day and night,
are what it takes to reduce blight.
Turning a brownfield green takes a multi-talented team.
But they will owe it all to you,
The champion who has the stamina to push it through.

Enjoy the read!
Robert Colangelo robertc@brownfieldassociation.org
Sue Boyle sueb@brownfieldassociation.org