Brownfields to Healthfields

Brownfields to Healthfields: Transforming Community Health through Sustainable Development

​Phoenix has recognized there is an opportunity to cleanup and redevelop brownfields that directly impact public health through the reuse of these sites for food and healthcare assets. The impact of this project results in improved community health due to the elimination of exposure to hazardous substances and creation of opportunities for improved access to healthcare and healthy foods, which positively impacts environmental and health equity.

Phoenix was awarded a $400,000 community-wide brownfields assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completed in 2018 that was the catalyst for this work. Ten sites were cleaned up and redeveloped as urban farms, community gardens, school gardens, farmers market, and a food hub using these funds.

Phoenix has continued this Brownfields to Healthfields (B2H) initiative with technical assistance available in targeted areas with inadequate health care, food deserts, as well as designated infill incentive, neighborhood initiative, and redevelopment areas. 

Project opportunities include:

• healthcare facilities, clinics (permanent and mobile),
• healthy food outlets: supermarkets, temporary food retailers, mobile markets, food hubs, farmers markets,
• urban agriculture: aquaponics, hydroponics, controlled environment agriculture, community supported agriculture, community and school gardens.

The Arizona Fresh: Agri-Food Innovation Center project is the most recent B2H example, which is transforming a former 100 acre landfill. This multi-phase project will ultimately create the nation’s leading source of innovation and education in the production and distribution of food.  The main elements of the project are a wholesale produce distribution center, a retail food market, a community park, education, and research facilities related to food and agriculture.