Alternative Text Description for FDEP Brownfield Areas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays designated Brownfield Areas across the state of Florida as defined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 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 provides a statewide view of where local governments have designated these areas to encourage voluntary cleanup and economic redevelopment through Florida's Brownfields Redevelopment Act.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the northern border near Albany, Georgia, southward through the Florida peninsula to the Keys. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Tallahassee in the panhandle, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west-central coast, Palm Coast on the east coast, Miami on the southeast coast, Cape Coral on the southwest coast, and the Keys extending southward. The map also shows portions of southern Georgia and Alabama to the north and west. Coastal areas along both the Atlantic Ocean (east) and the Gulf of America (west) are visible.

KEY INSIGHTS

Brownfield Areas are concentrated primarily in Florida's urban coastal regions. The greatest density of designated brownfield sites appears along the southeast coast from Palm Beach through Miami and extending into the Keys, the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area on the west coast, and the Jacksonville metropolitan area in the northeast. Central Florida around Orlando shows moderate concentrations of designated areas. The northern panhandle region and interior portions of the state show significantly fewer designated brownfield areas. This distribution pattern reflects the concentration of historical industrial and commercial development in Florida's major metropolitan areas and coastal communities.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

FDEP Brownfield Areas

This layer represents the boundaries of designated Brownfield Areas in Florida, showing where local governments have established zones to facilitate environmental cleanup and economic redevelopment.

Designated Brownfield Areas (dark blue polygon features)

Appearance:

Dark blue irregular polygon shapes of varying sizes.

Distribution:

Features are distributed throughout Florida with concentrations in coastal metropolitan areas, particularly in the southeast around Miami, the Tampa Bay area on the west coast, the Jacksonville area in the northeast, and scattered locations along both coasts and in the interior.

Notable locations:

The most significant concentrations appear in the Miami-Dade and southern Florida region including the Keys, where numerous brownfield areas are visible. The Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area shows substantial clustering. Jacksonville in the northeast contains multiple designated areas. Orlando and surrounding central Florida communities display moderate numbers of brownfield areas. The Florida panhandle, including areas near Tallahassee and western coastal communities, shows fewer but still notable brownfield designations.

Spatial patterns:

Brownfield Areas tend to cluster in and around major metropolitan centers and along transportation corridors. Coastal communities on both the Atlantic and Gulf of America sides show higher concentrations than interior regions. The areas vary considerably in size, from small localized sites to larger designated zones. Many brownfield areas appear near waterfront locations, reflecting historical patterns of industrial and commercial development along ports and waterways.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents officially designated Brownfield Areas as established through local government resolutions under Florida's Brownfields Redevelopment Act. Not all contaminated or underused industrial sites in Florida are necessarily included, as designation requires formal action by local authorities. The presence of a designated brownfield area indicates that the local community has taken steps to facilitate redevelopment through the state's brownfield program, which provides financial and regulatory incentives for voluntary cleanup. The boundaries shown represent the full designated brownfield areas, which may include some properties that are not contaminated but are included within the broader redevelopment zone.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset is maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and contains boundaries of designated Brownfield Areas in Florida. The data represents areas formally designated by local governments under the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Act (Chapter 97-277, Laws of Florida, codified at sections 376.77-376.85, Florida Statutes) to encourage environmental cleanup and economic redevelopment of abandoned or underused industrial and commercial properties. Data source layer name: BROWNFIELDS_AREAS_FEB25.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this dataset. All designated Brownfield Areas in Florida are displayed.

Scale Information:

The map displays a statewide view appropriate for understanding the overall distribution of designated brownfield areas across Florida. Individual site boundaries and internal details within designated areas are visible at this scale.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The dataset reflects designated Brownfield Areas as of February 2025.

Limitations:

This map shows only officially designated Brownfield Areas as defined under Florida's Brownfields Redevelopment Act. It does not show all potentially contaminated sites, underused industrial properties, or sites undergoing environmental cleanup that have not been formally designated as brownfield areas. The extent and boundaries reflect local government designations and may change over time as areas are designated, redeveloped, or removed from the program.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from its northern border with Georgia and Alabama southward through the peninsula and the Florida Keys. Portions of southern Georgia, southern Alabama, and adjacent waters are shown for geographic context.

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