Alternative Text Description for FDEP Brownfield Areas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays designated Brownfield Areas throughout Florida as defined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Brownfield Areas are contiguous zones containing one or more brownfield sites—abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial facilities where redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The map shows the spatial distribution of these designated areas across the state, indicating where cleanup and redevelopment initiatives under Florida's Brownfields Redevelopment Act are focused.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, from the panhandle region in the northwest (including cities like Dothan and Tallahassee) extending south through the peninsula to the Florida Keys. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Orlando in the central region, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, Palm Coast on the east coast, Miami on the southeastern tip, and Cape Coral on the southwest coast. The map also shows portions of southern Georgia and Alabama to the north, and the Gulf of America to the west and south.

KEY INSIGHTS

Designated Brownfield Areas in Florida show a distinct coastal concentration pattern, with significant clustering along the southeastern Atlantic coast and the southwestern Gulf coast. The most notable concentration appears in the southeastern region near Miami and extending northward along the coast. Additional substantial concentrations are visible in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area, the Jacksonville region, and the southwestern coastal area near Cape Coral and extending south through the Keys. The panhandle region and north-central interior portions of the state show relatively sparse brownfield designations, with scattered sites rather than concentrated areas. This distribution suggests brownfield designation corresponds primarily with urbanized coastal communities and major metropolitan areas where historical industrial and commercial activity has been concentrated.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

FDEP Brownfield Areas

This layer represents the boundaries of designated Brownfield Areas in Florida.

Designated Brownfield Areas (dark blue polygons)

Appearance:

Dark blue filled polygons of varying sizes and shapes.

Distribution:

Features are distributed throughout Florida with heavy concentration along coastal areas, particularly the southeastern Atlantic coast from Miami northward to Palm Coast, the southwestern Gulf coast from Cape Coral through the Keys, the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, and the Jacksonville region. Scattered occurrences appear in the panhandle near Tallahassee and in isolated interior locations.

Notable locations:

The densest concentration of brownfield areas appears in the southeastern coastal zone extending from Miami northward through the metropolitan corridor. Another major concentration occurs around Tampa-St. Petersburg. The Jacksonville area shows significant clustering along the coast. The southwestern region from Cape Coral south through the Keys displays continuous coastal brownfield designations. Isolated designations appear near Tallahassee in the panhandle and scattered interior locations throughout central Florida.

Spatial patterns:

Brownfield areas exhibit strong coastal affinity, following shorelines and clustering around major urban centers. Linear patterns are evident along the southeastern coast and through the Florida Keys. Interior areas show minimal designation activity, with brownfield areas concentrated in urbanized zones. The distribution suggests correlation with historical port cities, industrial waterfront areas, and major metropolitan regions where commercial and industrial land uses have been most intensive.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are evident as this map displays a single thematic layer showing brownfield area boundaries.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents designated Brownfield Areas as officially recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under Florida's Brownfields Redevelopment Act. These designations are not necessarily indicators of current contamination but rather identify areas where expansion or redevelopment has been complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The boundaries shown represent local government-designated areas that may include community redevelopment areas, enterprise zones, empowerment zones, or EPA brownfield pilot projects. Not all contaminated properties are designated brownfield areas, and some properties within designated areas may not be contaminated. The map serves planning and redevelopment purposes by identifying areas eligible for financial and regulatory incentives to encourage voluntary cleanup and economic revitalization.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

Data is sourced from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and represents brownfield area boundaries designated by local government resolutions under Florida's Brownfields Redevelopment Act (Chapter 97-277, Laws of Florida, codified at sections 376.77-376.85, Florida Statutes). The data provides polygon representations of designated brownfield area boundaries.

Data source layer name: BROWNFIELDS_AREAS_FEB25

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this data view.

Scale Information:

The map displays a statewide view of Florida, showing brownfield areas at a scale appropriate for understanding regional distribution patterns across the entire state.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

Data is current as of February 2025 based on the data source layer name.

Limitations:

The boundaries represent officially designated brownfield areas and may not capture all contaminated or underutilized industrial properties in the state. Designation is voluntary and requires local government action, so the absence of a brownfield designation does not indicate the absence of contamination or underutilized industrial properties. The actual contamination status of individual properties within designated areas may vary. Areas outside designated boundaries may also contain brownfield properties that have not been formally designated.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the panhandle region in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the south, with portions of neighboring states (Georgia and Alabama) and surrounding water bodies visible for geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.