Annapolis Selected for $4 Million EPA Grant for Spa Road Cleanup

Annapolis has been selected for a $4 million federal Brownfields Cleanup Grant tied to Spa Road properties with a history of landfill and incinerator use.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Maryland selections on June 24, 2026, and the City of Annapolis announced the local selection on June 25. The selected applicant is the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, with the grant connected to the City of Annapolis Department of Public Works site.

The selection is an important funding step, but it is not the same as money already being disbursed or cleanup being completed. The EPA says formal awards will be made after selected applicants satisfy legal and administrative requirements.

What is known about the Spa Road site

City materials identify the local properties as 932 and 937 Spa Road and describe a 6.45-acre cleanup site operated by the City’s Department of Public Works. The property was used as a landfill and incinerator in the early 20th century.

City and EPA records identify environmental concerns involving soil, groundwater, sediment and surface water. The EPA application information sheet separately lists the site as 935 Spa Road, Lot 1. Because the official records use different address descriptions, the references should not be treated as interchangeable without noting the distinction.

The available documents describe documented contamination and the need for remediation work. They do not establish that the site is currently the subject of a public-health emergency.

What the grant is intended to fund

The funding is intended to support cleanup planning, remediation activities and community engagement. That work is expected to help guide the cleanup of the site, address environmental impacts and give residents opportunities to learn about the project and provide feedback.

The City says the project is intended to reduce pollutants reaching the Chesapeake Bay. However, the cited sources do not establish a final cleanup schedule, a specific cleanup technology or a completed remediation plan. The EPA selection also does not by itself authorize construction or redevelopment.

Why the project matters for future land use

The City’s Spa Road Environmental Remediation project page identifies possible future mixed-income housing, rehabilitated recreation space, afforestation and other complementary uses. The city’s grant announcement also points to potential affordable housing and commercial space.

Those possibilities are planning goals, not approved outcomes. Any future housing, commercial, recreation or neighborhood-redevelopment project would depend on environmental findings, cleanup decisions, land-use approvals and later action by local officials.

For residents and nearby businesses, the project could eventually affect water-quality protection, land-use decisions and the future use of City-owned property near Spa Road. The cleanup process may also shape how the area is evaluated for future investment, but the cited records do not establish a construction timeline or housing-unit count.

What happens next

The next steps are expected to include completion of the formal federal award process, continued environmental assessment and remediation planning, and public engagement. Residents should watch for additional City, EPA or Resilience Authority updates before drawing conclusions about a final redevelopment plan.

For now, the clearest takeaway is that Annapolis has been selected for substantial federal assistance to address a long-standing environmental issue at the Spa Road properties. The selection creates a path for cleanup work and community discussion, but it does not mean that the grant has already been disbursed, cleanup is complete or construction has begun.

Sources

• City of Annapolis grant announcement on the Spa Road brownfields project
• EPA Maryland brownfields grant announcement