HARTLEY, MI – May 15, 2025
— In a long-awaited moment of hope and renewal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a $1.2 million grant to the town of Hartley, Michigan, to support the reconstruction of its central playground, which was closed more than a decade ago after high levels of lead contamination were discovered in the soil.
The playground, once a cherished gathering place for families in this quiet town of 3,500, had fallen into disrepair after tests revealed lead concentrations far above federal safety thresholds — a lingering legacy of a now-defunct smelting facility that operated nearby for decades.
“For years, this playground was a painful symbol of what our community lost — a safe space for our children,” said Mayor Angela Bennett, standing with residents at the fenced-off lot where rusted play structures still sit under warning signs. “This grant is more than just funding. It’s a signal that our children’s health and future matter.”
The funding, part of the EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, will be used to fully remove and remediate the contaminated soil, replace old equipment, and construct a new, environmentally safe play area using non-toxic materials. Local officials say the rebuilt park will also include shaded seating, inclusive play features, and a rain garden to manage stormwater runoff — integrating safety with sustainability.
“We want it to be a place where kids can be kids, without fear,” said town resident and schoolteacher Kara Lopez, who has lived in Hartley her entire life. “For too long, we’ve carried the burden of industrial pollution with very little support. This changes that.”
Hartley’s struggle is one shared by many small, post-industrial towns across the Midwest, where aging infrastructure, legacy pollution, and disinvestment have created long-term health risks for communities with limited means to respond. Blood lead testing conducted in the early 2010s revealed elevated levels in a significant number of local children, prompting state health officials to urge families to avoid prolonged contact with certain areas, including the park.
In recent years, advocacy from local parents, environmental health groups, and town officials began to gain traction, drawing attention from state and federal agencies. EPA Administrator Michael Regan called Hartley’s grant part of a broader commitment to supporting underserved and historically overlooked communities.
“Every child deserves a safe place to play, and every community deserves clean air, clean water, and healthy soil,” Regan said in a statement. “This investment in Hartley reflects our ongoing efforts to put environmental justice at the center of our mission.”
Cleanup and construction are expected to begin this fall, with the new playground scheduled to open in late spring of next year. Local children, some of whom have never had a public playground in their lifetime, have already been asked to help design aspects of the new site.
“It’s their space,” said Mayor Bennett. “And we want them to see that even when harm has been done, healing is possible — and they are at the heart of it.”
For residents like Kara Lopez, the significance is deeply personal. “We lost time. We lost trust. But this playground? This is how we begin to build it back.”
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