Brownfields to Healthfields: A Retrospective Ripple Effect Mapping Evaluation in Three Rural Communities

The environments in which we live influence our health behaviors and outcomes. The redevelopment of brownfields sites to health-promoting land uses may provide an array of benefits to individuals and communities, but these impacts can be particularly difficult to assess in rural communities using traditional evaluation approaches. This participatory evaluation aimed to explore the impacts of redeveloping rural brownfield sites into health-promoting land uses. Using a facilitated workshop-based Ripple Effects Mapping process, we evaluated three rural brownfields redevelopment sites across Appalachian portions of EPA Region 3 (mid-Atlantic). Adult members (n=32) of these communities participated in guided reflection on the redevelopment and subsequent impacts. Data were constructed as digital mind maps, then coded to the Community Capitals Framework by two authors coding independently. Member checking was conducted with representative workshop participants. Commonly cited impacts were site improvements, facilitation of social and physical activity, and engaging community identity. The most discussed community capitals were social and built; the least discussed capitals were natural and political. Rural brownfield redevelopment targeting physical activity provides the added benefit of engaging an array of community capitals, ultimately strengthening communities on the whole. Future directions for brownfield redevelopment evaluation are discussed.