MARYSVILLE — The city of Marysville invites the public to an open house Nov. 8 to discuss a federal grant that would be put toward cleanup of the Geddes Marina property on the Ebey waterfront that the city bought in July of last year.

The open house will take place from 7-8 p.m. in the large conference room in the Jennings Park Barn, located at 6915 Armar Rd.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the city’s application for a $200,000 EPA Brownfields cleanup grant that would be used to remediate contaminated ground at the five-acre site, according to 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, will 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 2009 Downtown Master Plan would see the Ebey waterfront redeveloped with trails, apartments or condominiums, as well as some commercial development. No specific plans are decided for the marina site.

For more information about the grant proposal and open house, contact Dungan at 360-363-8206 or Engineering Services Manager Shawn Smith at 360-363-8224.