River Raisin Battlefield

1403 East Elm Ave Monroe, Michigan River Raisin National Battlefield Park

A former paper plant in Monroe was redeveloped into a National Park with brownfield redevelopment incentives from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). A Brownfield Redevelopment Grant and Loan paid for site assessment, building demolition, and contaminated fill removal. A National Park memorializing the Battle of Frenchtown in the War of 1812 has made the former paper mill a popular a tourist destination.

SITE CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY Raisin National Battlefield Park and the expanded park The 35-acre site is the on approximate location of the officially opened for public use. Frenchtown settlement, the historical origin of the City of Monroe, and one of the earliest European settlements in The project helped preserve a historic American battle site and resulted in economic benefits from increased Michigan. Frenchtown was the location of a series of War tourism. The park also fosters trans-national of 1812 conflicts between French and British factions. In comradeship between the United States, Canada and the 1915, the first River Raisin Paper Company mill was built United Kingdom. Each year, on the anniversary of the on the undeveloped site. The River Raisin Paper Battle of Frenchtown, U.S., Canadian and British Company, later sold to Jefferson Smurfit, occupied the representatives attend a commemoration for those who site until 1995. The property was donated to the city for gave their lives and a reenactment of the battlefield tactics of the time. the national park project.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND REMEDIATION FUNDING AND INCENTIVES The DEQ awarded the City of Monroe a brownfield grant • $1,000,000 DEQ Brownfield Grant and loan in 2004 to redevelop the contaminated • $646,400 DEQ Brownfield Loan $1,200,000 EPA Brownfield Revolving Loan property. Several paper mill buildings were demolished • • $270,000 City of Monroe Water Fund Loan with DEQ incentives. Basements of previously demolished buildings had been filled with contaminated OUTCOMES soil that was removed with DEQ and EPA assistance. • 50,000 visitors a year contribute to a strong Clean fill now covers the site. local tourist economy • 5 jobs REDEVELOPMENT • 2009 National Brownfield Renewal Award (Social The Monroe County Historical Commission and Monroe Category) County Historical society opened a River Raisin Battlefield visitor center in 1990. The visitor center was ADDITIONAL INFORMATION expanded in 1995 when the paper mill closed. In 2009, Renewal Award Project Summary thanks to the efforts of United States senators Carl Levin Re-enactment of the Battle of Frenchtown and Debbie Stabenow and Congressman John Dingell, History of the Battle of Frenchtown the site became part of the National Park System. The City of Monroe transferred the property to the River

517-284-5113 www.michigan.gov/deqbrownfields March 2017 #mibrownfields