The creation of a community wellness area anchored by two West Valley hospitals and supported by a coalition of community partners in Goodyear is capturing national attention, winning a top award from General Electric (GE). The 129-acre project, named Goodyear Community Health Park, is being developed through a collaboration between the city of Goodyear, Abrazo West Campus, Adelante Healthcare, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, John D. Kuhn Ventures and Hickman Farms, among others.

For its ability to bring together a wide variety of community stakeholders interested in improving public health through a public/private partnership, the project won the GE HealthyCities Leadership Challenge. The goal of the Challenge is to demonstrate that businesses can help drive improvement in population health and lower health care costs. By collaborating with government, private organizations can develop new, creative, game-changing and economically sustainable ways to affect public health. GE believes better health is not only central to happiness, productivity and life expectancy, it is imperative for the vibrancy of communities, and the success of businesses in that community. 

Located along the north side of Interstate 10, between Litchfield and Bullard roads, the corridor is currently a flood control basin. Purchased for $233 from Maricopa County, the potential of the Health Park has drawn interest from the two hospitals that anchor the land.

The long-term vision for the park includes a wide range of amenities designed to encourage people to be active, engage in community gatherings and learn ways to incorporate healthy choices and fitness into everyday life. A wellness trail, sports village, gardens, wellness and education centers and a family activity area are just some of the ideas being considered for the park.

Along with training and mentorship by experts in the field of population health, the Goodyear Community Health Park will receive up to $25,000 of funding from GE to help implement a community population health program plan. The Goodyear Community Health Park was chosen by a panel of judges in the field of population health for its ability to demonstrate potential to improve the health of all people in the community through an innovative and integrated public/private partnership. Members of the project team traveled to Ossining, New York earlier this month, courtesy of GE, to receive the honor and participate in a forum to further the project.

For more information, contact the Goodyear Public Information Office at 623-882-7053 or email Amy.Bolton@goodyearaz.gov or Kristin Schwarz with GE at 646-882-5601 or by email at Kristin.Schwarz@ge.com.

For further reading, visit the article on the Goodyear webpage by clicking here.