The Phoenix City Council approved a $28 million initiative Tuesday to dramatically expand shade structures, cooling stations, and heat-resilient infrastructure across the city, as officials prepare for another summer of potentially record-breaking temperatures.
The plan, called “Cool Phoenix 2030,” represents the city’s most ambitious effort yet to address the urban heat island effect that makes the Valley of the Sun one of the hottest metropolitan areas on Earth. Phoenix recorded 113 days above 100°F in 2025, and heat-related deaths have become a growing public health crisis.
“Heat is the deadliest weather phenomenon in America, and Phoenix is ground zero,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “We cannot wait any longer to make our city more livable in extreme heat.”
The plan allocates $12 million for shade structures at bus stops, parks, and along major pedestrian corridors. Currently, fewer than 30 percent of Phoenix bus stops have shade, leaving transit riders — who are disproportionately low-income — exposed to dangerous temperatures during summer months.
An additional $8 million will fund the expansion of the city’s network of cooling centers, including new facilities in underserved neighborhoods and extended operating hours at existing locations. The remaining $8 million will support cool-pavement coatings, tree planting, and reflective roofing incentives.
“We’ve been piloting cool pavement for several years, and the data shows it can reduce surface temperatures by 10 to 12 degrees,” said city sustainability director Mark Hartman. “Now we’re ready to scale up.”
Heat equity advocates praised the plan but urged the city to move quickly. “Every summer we delay costs lives,” said Stacey Champion of the Arizona Heat Action Alliance. “The most vulnerable people — those experiencing homelessness, outdoor workers, the elderly — need these protections now.”
Funding will come from city bonds, a federal resilience grant, and the Inflation Reduction Act’s environmental justice provisions. Construction on the first projects is expected to begin this spring, with the goal of having significant new shade installed before the peak heat season in June.
