Congratulations to the 2025 Phoenix Award Winners! The awards reflect the progression of brownfield redevelopment over the past 20+ years by recognizing extraordinary practitioners and projects. Today, brownfields redevelopment is an established practice area with expertise and organizations from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors across the country. The awards recognize exemplary practitioners and projects that are creating jobs, economic opportunity, and stronger communities.
The 2025 Phoenix Awards were presented by ICMA and sponsored by the Mannik & Smith Group in Chicago, IL on August 7, 2025 during the National Brownfields Training Conference.
Learn more about winners of the 2023 Phoenix Awards and 2022 Phoenix Awards!
PEOPLE AWARDS
The People Awards recognize the people behind the projects. Winners receive an award and recognition at the 2025 National Brownfields Training Conference. Scoring will be based on how closely a nominee reflects the award description. Click below to read full descriptions by category.
The Linda Garczynski person of the year award, presented to Shannon Selby, recognizes an outstanding brownfield leader who recently championed brownfield redevelopment to promote and enhance significant community revitalization. Nominees come from the public, private, nonprofit, or community-based sectors. They display significant leadership in advancing the concepts, practices, and application of community renewal through brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. Nominations should describe the significant community impacts realized due to the leadership of the nominee.
The Browndbreaker is someone who has evolved the understanding and practice of brownfield redevelopment by retooling the goals, process, and outcomes of a community brownfields project to promote community revitalization, and championed new practices and game changing policies. The 2025 Browndbreaker is Annika Colston. Areas of activity can include, but are not limited to, stakeholder engagement, assessment and remediation, planning, policy, finance, and law. Nominees should demonstrate leadership in making a visible difference to an impactful community brownfields project and sharpening our practice.
This award recognizes brownfield practitioners at the local level (state/regional/county/city) whose dedication and leadership has elevated our practice and made brownfields fundamental to how their communities evolve. The 2025 award goes to Dave Zenk. The award goes to a public, private, or nonprofit leader who organized local communities, led projects, or otherwise demonstrated commitment to brownfield redevelopment.
This award celebrates an outstanding leader for his or her service to brownfields communities over the course of a career (or most of one) elevating brownfield redevelopment. The 2025 award goes to Jill Ferrari. Coming from the public, private, or nonprofit sectors, the recipient is someone who has forever changed the way we see and engage in brownfield redevelopment. This award is named in honor of the late Charlie Bartsch, who not only coined the term “brownfield”, but mentored many of us in the brownfield community and left his imprint on our practice forever. Nominations must include a description of the nominee’s significant achievements over the course of his or her career and the impacts he or she provided the national brownfields community.
PROJECT AWARDS
The Project Awards recognize exemplary projects.
Chicago, IL
This 180-acre redevelopment was once home to powered railcar assembly, steel mills, and manufacturing that shaped a nation. Through 70 community meetings, local voices defined the vision: fresh food, good jobs, affordable homes, and safe places to gather. Since 2010, Pullman Park has delivered over 1.7 million square feet of industrial, commercial, and residential space, catalyzing more than 5,000 jobs across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and hospitality. From the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse atop Method’s LEED Platinum factory to sustainable stormwater management and the preservation of natural habitats. The site redevelopment was catalyzed by the opening of a Walmart which eased access to fresh food for local residents. Later arrivals include a Whole Foods location, Amazon distribution center, and Gotham Greens rooftop garden producing over one million pounds of fresh, sustainably grown, pesticide-free produce each year for local Chicago communities. From 2010 to 2023, Pullman’s median household income rose 48%, outpacing the city average. Unemployment dropped from 21.0% to 13.2%, and the share of residents in management, science, and production occupations increased.
Norwalk, CT
This project’s historic uses range from recreational to residential to industrial; including a hat manufacturer, salad oil production, machine shops, and a foundry and junkyard to name a few. Nestled along the banks of the Norwalk River, South Norwalk—affectionately known as SoNo—was long shaped by industry, flooding, and economic challenges. The project was initially driven by a bold vision and catalyzed by a 2014 HUD Choice Neighborhoods Grant. To avoid the flooding that had plagued the area, Ryan Park, SoNo’s sole public recreational space, was raised above the 500-year floodplain, and transformed with vibrant playgrounds, sports courts, solar lighting and green spaces. Adjacent to Ryan Park, the former Washington Village—the oldest public housing in Connecticut—was replaced with Soundview Landing: a state-of-the-art, mixed-income development, featuring 273 resilient and energy-efficient homes, inclusive amenities, and seamless connections to public transit and the city’s bustling waterfront. The redevelopment preserved all 136 affordable housing units from the original development and introduced 24 fully handicapped-accessible units.
Borough of Palmyra, NJ
This remarkable 180-acre redevelopment area represents 15% of Palmyra’s land, but for decades, it was an underutilized patchwork of contaminated sites, illegal dumping grounds (utilized by organized crime), and a landfill. It was once used by the Army as a World War II era rifle testing range. Site investigations found thousands of munitions debris (MD) items and over 300 unexploded recoilless rife shells, including shells penetrating the ground surface of a weekend flea market where vendors routinely drove tent/canopy stakes into the ground. Today, the site is a vibrant, mixed-use district. Two state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution centers anchor the area, providing over 700 permanent jobs. The project also delivered 102 new affordable rental units, adjacent to the beautiful 250-acre Palmyra Cove Nature Park, making nature, jobs, and community accessible to all. Financially, the impact is transformative: annual PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments have grown from $50,000 to over $2 million, representing 18% of Palmyra’s annual budget. Palmyra’s story is now recognized statewide, from hosting the 2025 NJ Brownfield Summit to being named one of New Jersey’s Best Managed Cities with a population under 10,000.
York, PA
What makes the Homes at Thackston Park truly remarkable is both its scale and its innovation. The site—once home to sixty deteriorating postwar housing units along the Codorus Creek and near the Heritage Rail Trail—presented complex challenges: structural decay, environmental contamination, and the pressing need for modern, accessible, and beautiful homes for families. Instead of opting for patchwork solutions, the team embarked on a comprehensive master planning process built on community engagement, environmental stewardship, and design excellence. The results speak for themselves: sixty deteriorated housing units were replaced with eighty-nine units of affordable housing. They transformed both sides of West College Avenue. They not only replaced every outdated unit with new, energy-efficient homes, but enhanced the neighborhood with green spaces, safe pedestrian connections, and access to the York County Heritage Rail Trail.
City of Palmetto, FL
Once a site marred by decades of contamination from railroad operations and industrial activity, Connor Park has now been transformed into a beacon of environmental stewardship. The project team removed thousands of tons of contaminated soil, restoring wetlands and creek habitats, and deploying innovative solutions such as phytoremediation, artificial reef balls and coral plugs to restore the health of the Manatee River and its delicate ecosystems. Connor Park opened in April 2023, and features walking trails, public art installations, and green spaces that invite residents of all ages to connect with both nature and each other. Its story honors local hero, Francis “Frank” Connor, celebrates the return of native wildlife and plants, and champions a sustainable future for generations to come.
Chicago, IL
This 180-acre redevelopment was once home to powered railcar assembly, steel mills, and manufacturing that shaped a nation. Through 70 community meetings, local voices defined the vision: fresh food, good jobs, affordable homes, and safe places to gather. Since 2010, Pullman Park has delivered over 1.7 million square feet of industrial, commercial, and residential space, catalyzing more than 5,000 jobs across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and hospitality. From the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse atop Method’s LEED Platinum factory to sustainable stormwater management and the preservation of natural habitats. The site redevelopment was catalyzed by the opening of a Walmart which eased access to fresh food for local residents. Later arrivals include a Whole Foods location, Amazon distribution center, and Gotham Greens rooftop garden producing over one million pounds of fresh, sustainably grown, pesticide-free produce each year for local Chicago communities. From 2010 to 2023, Pullman’s median household income rose 48%, outpacing the city average. Unemployment dropped from 21.0% to 13.2%, and the share of residents in management, science, and production occupations increased.
Dallas, TX
This ambitious project is a truly unique, long term, and widespread, encompassing multiple brownfields parcels. Led by St. Philip’s School and Community Center this project—spanning 106 acres and encompassing 25 city blocks—has turned brownfields into beacons of hope. Over 62 contaminated sites ranging from former dry cleaners and auto repair shops to gas stations and liquor stores, have been cleaned up. Today, these spaces serve as vibrant centers for learning, health, the arts, recreation, and affordable housing. More than $50 million has been invested in construction and renovation, creating hundreds of jobs and providing vital services. The neighborhood boasts a highly accredited pre-K to 8th grade school, a state-of-the-art performing arts center, athletic fields, community green space, and a food pantry providing 700,000 pounds of food annually to over 1700 individuals – a majority of whom are food insecure seniors. Solar panels, sustainable landscaping, and innovative environmental solutions have set new standards for urban redevelopment in Dallas.
Oskaloosa, IA
With a population just under 12,000, the public-private partnership that led to the Coal Mine Loop project was able to remove contamination concerns during a due diligence phase and ultimately return the land to productive reuses. What began as a site stigmatized by decades-old rumors about mining locations and uncharted dangers has now blossomed into Gateway Commercial Park—home to thriving businesses catalyzed by the development of the Fairfield Inn and Suites—a state-of-the-art hotel, and a 46,000 square foot entertainment complex named after one of the mine sites, TRIO. The project created nearly 300 new jobs and millions in annual tax revenue. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University (WPU), which sponsors 22 varsity sports and routinely hosts other schools for events. Now visiting teams are no longer forced to reserve rooms in other communities. Meanwhile, TRIO won the “Best Bar”, “Family Fun”, and “Best Movie Theater” categories for the local newspaper in 2025. This has positioned Oskaloosa as a regional destination for business, sports, and entertainment.
East Helena, MT
This project tells an incredible story of how a single industry can both make and break a community. ASARCO operated its smelter for more than a century, producing around 70,000 tons of lead bullion annually. The smelter was the lifeblood of this company town—fueling the local economy, sponsoring community traditions like a baseball team (the “Smelterites”), community picnics and an annual fireworks show. In 2001, the smelter closed its doors; and eventually filed for bankruptcy. By 2009, following one of the largest environmental bankruptcy settlements in U.S. history (at $1.79 billion), the “Miracle of East Helena” began to unfold; with the establishment of the Montana Environmental Trust Group overseeing redevelopment, cleanup of more than 2,000 acres on a Superfund site, restoration of Prickly Pear Creek and creation of over 100 acres of new floodplain and 50 acres of wetlands, over 270 acres for new schools, affordable housing, retail developments, and recreational amenities, including the 61st annual East Helena rodeo. Habitat for Humanity plans to build 1,500 affordable homes in Rose Hills; and Oakland plans to build 2,000 apartments and 2,000 houses at the Prickly Pear Estates project. The Highland Meadows subdivision has already added nearly 300 new homes to the market, including 15 Habitat-affordable homes (of which 6 are owner-occupied)—significantly improving the local housing shortage.
San Diego, CA
The IQHQ Research and Development District, affectionately known as RaDD, spans 15.89 acres on formerly Navy-owned land. Over 800,000 cubic yards of soil—enough to fill more than 240 Olympic swimming pools—were excavated and exported to make way for a vibrant new district. The project team faced the challenge of treating nearly 7,000 cubic yards of historically dumped hazardous incinerator waste. RaDD’s design and construction have set new standards for sustainability, with over 1 megawatt of solar power generation, 200 EV-ready parking spaces, electrochromic glass, and a 100% carbon-neutral base building. The project is targeting LEED Gold and has already earned WiredScore Platinum certification. Upon completion, RaDD will deliver 1.7 million square feet of lab, office, and retail space, more than five acres of green space, a museum, and premium outdoor amenities—all within walking distance of San Diego’s major transit hubs. More than 4,000 jobs created, $50 million in annual taxes and fees generated, and $15 billion in estimated economic benefits.
Bend, OR
This visionary initiative has turned a challenging legacy site into a beacon of higher education and regional revitalization. Spanning 120 acres—48 acres of a former pumice mine and 72 acres of closed landfill—the site was once a repository for demolition debris and industrial waste, with environmental challenges including methane, volatile organic compounds, and hazardous high-temperature waste. To date, over 532,000 cubic yards of waste have been excavated and processed, generating 160,000 cubic yards of usable fill. The campus expansion not only supports academic and research excellence but also paves the way for affordable housing, improved connectivity, and vibrant recreational spaces. With community engagement at the heart of the process, more than 200 volunteers have helped shape a vision that aligns with the region’s economic development, housing, and innovation goals.
