From Gas Station to Green Space: A Fresh Start in Mt. Healthy

Not long ago, this parcel in Mt. Healthy was marked by an aging, vacant gas station. The site, once a hub of activity, had become a deteriorating structure that no longer served the community around it. The cleanup, remediation, and preparation of this brownfield site took approximately five years before it was ready for redevelopment. The Port contracted with the previous city manager and led efforts to secure funding and oversee environmental remediation, working closely with local partners to guide the site through every stage of cleanup and readiness for new investment.

Today, neighbors are now greeted by open green space lined with wildflowers. It is a simple but powerful transformation that removes a blighted property and replaces it with a pocket of beauty in the heart of the town.

We spoke with Mt. Healthy’s City Manager Scott Bauer about the change. He shared how the environmental remediation helped uplift the surrounding area and gave residents a sense of relief and renewed pride. Scott shared his perspective on the project, noting that “for years the property was a blighted building. It just wasn’t really in use. When I started, it was an empty lot, and we were looking for ways to spur economic development. A way of remediating the property was to get it leveled and ready for the next person to take it over.” Reflecting on the site’s current impact, he added, “now that the plot’s been turned over, it’s a nice little pocket park with pretty flowers for the community to use. Maybe eventually it’ll turn into a larger development, but it’s great to have a fresh, open space for our community.”

While there is not a finalized plan yet for the property’s long-term use, the future holds endless opportunities. With thriving small businesses, walkable streets, and a lively town center nearby, this lot has the potential to be so much more.

For now, it serves as a pocket park, a cheerful green pause in the middle of town, offering color, calm, and a glimpse of what is possible when underused land is put back to work for the community.

The transformation of this single parcel is a reminder of The Port’s larger mission: to take brownfields that have been left behind and return them to productive use. In Mt. Healthy, that process has already made a visible difference, replacing an eyesore with a source of pride and possibility.