City of Stockton News Release

Connie Cochran
Public Information Officer

(209) 937-8827
connie.cochran@ci.stockton.ca.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Stockton Events Center Wins National Award

(Stockton, CA) - Mayor Ann Johnston and Councilmember Susan Eggman traveled to New Orleans this week to represent the City of Stockton at an environmental conference and awards ceremony. The Stockton Events Center was awarded The Phoenix Award today, a prestigious award recognizing outstanding projects that redevelop environmentally challenged areas. The Stockton Events Center, which is comprised of the Stockton Ballpark, Stockton Arena, a parking garage and hotel with condominiums, is located on the downtown waterfront and had been contaminated by a number of industrial uses over the decades, including shipyards, rail yards, auto dealerships and a creamery.

The Phoenix Award recognizes one outstanding project from each of the ten U.S. Environmental Protection Agency District regions each year. Stockton is the Region 9 recipient for 2008 for Brownfields redevelopment. The Stockton Events Center project was selected as an award recipient because of its innovative uses, environmental and remediation techniques, sustainable development, and partnership with other organizations and agencies.

“Our waterfront location is our greatest asset,” said Mayor Johnston. “It has taken years of dedication and vision to get us to this point. It is really an honor to be recognized for our efforts.”

The downtown waterfront had been the subject of numerous plans since the mid-1970’s. In the mid-1990’s, the City of Stockton Redevelopment Agency determined that plans could not move forward until Brownfields issues were addressed. Other downtown projects formed the catalyst for the redevelopment of the waterfront, including Dean DeCarli Waterfront Plaza, a 2002 Phoenix Award winner, the City Centre Cineplex and the renovation of the Hotel Stockton. Ultimately, the Polanco Redevelopment Act became the vehicle for assessment and characterization of the waterfront, leading to clean-up of soil contamination and groundwater hotspots, which included toxic substances such as lead, arsenic, gasoline, diesel and motor oil, polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the soil and gasoline and associated compounds in the groundwater.

With environmental challenges addressed, residents and visitors to our community can now enjoy the amenities of the Stockton Events Center and our prime waterfront location, which has been enhanced by the recently renovated downtown Stockton Marina and Joan Darrah Promenade on the Stockton waterfront.

For questions, please contact Connie Cochran, Public Information Officer, at (209) 937-8827.
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Note: The Phoenix Awards national conference is on an 18 month cycle; awards for 2008 and 2009 are being presented at the 2009 conference.

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