MARYSVILLE — The city of Marysville invites the public to an open house on Wednesday, Jan. 25, to discuss a federal grant for cleaning up the Geddes Marina property, on the Ebey waterfront, that the city bought in July of 2010.

The open house will take place from 6-7 p.m. in the large meeting room of the Marysville Library, located at 6120 Grove St.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the city’s application for a $550,000 Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Multi-Purpose Pilot Grant, that would be put toward the assessment and remediation of contaminated soils on the five-acre site, according to city Land Use Planning Manager Cheryl Dungan. The property contains some types of chemicals and pollutants typical of the timber industry and marine operations that have existed along the waterfront since the late 1800s.

Dungan explained that long-term cleanup at the marina at 1326 First St., just west of Ebey Waterfront Park, would include both structural and environmental work.

The EPA awarded the city with a Brownfields grant in May of 2009 to clean up the Crown Pacific/Interfor mill site at 60 State Ave. on the waterfront just east of State Avenue.

Brownfields grants are designed to help revitalize former industrial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use.

Long-term plans as identified in the city’s Downtown Master Plan would see the Ebey waterfront redeveloped with trails, apartments or condominiums, as well as some commercial development.

For more information about the grant application, contact city Engineering Services Manager Shawn Smith at 360-363-8224.