In its second round of funding, the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities Program is investing $100 million to create urban green space in eight cities: Allentown, Pa., Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Ark., Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Sioux Falls, S.D.
The funding is part of the second round of the Greening America’s Cities initiative, which aims to convert underused urban land into parks, trails, habitat areas and other community green spaces. The Earth Fund has committed $400 million to the effort and has invested $150 million in 11 cities to date.
Although the projects vary according to community and ecological needs, they combine wildlife habitat with parks and recreational amenities.
The Allentown project partners with Allentown Parknership to transform a 1.1-acre asphalt lot into a shaded neighborhood park serving about 16,000 nearby residents. Plans include children’s play areas, game tables, a basketball court, a community garden with water access, restrooms, pathways, parking and signage.
In Atlanta, the project partners with Park Pride to create Four Corners Park for about 3,500 residents in the city’s southwest area. The 4.9-acre neighborhood park will include play spaces, community gardening and composting areas, environmental infrastructure, gathering spaces and safety improvements.
In Cleveland, the project partners with Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the city of Cleveland to transform 600 publicly owned parcels into a network of green spaces, parks, gathering areas and urban agriculture serving about 17,000 residents in the Hough and St. Clair-Superior neighborhoods. City officials say the investment will turn vacant land into community assets that support public wellness, safety and economic growth.
The Indianapolis project partners with Indy Parks to transform 25 acres of underutilized land along the White River into a community park serving about 6,500 residents. Along with restoring wetlands, the investment will support sports courts, multiuse fields, trails, community gardens, orchards and other park infrastructure.
The Little Rock project is partnering with the city of Little Rock and the Arkansas Department of Transportation to reclaim 20 acres made available through a highway exit ramp demolition and create 30 Crossing Park. The downtown park will connect the Clinton Presidential Center with more than 100 acres of riverfront green space and Riverfront Park. Project officials say the park corridor will include play spaces, sports amenities and natural areas while supporting recreation, culture and tourism.
In Los Angeles, the project partners with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust to expand five acres of an underused portion of an urban park into a more ecologically sustainable connection between the Watts community and the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus. Along with new landscaping, the project will include an outdoor amphitheater, art installations and new pathways. The land trust estimates the area will attract about 50,000 visitors annually and become increasingly important during the 2028 Olympics.
The Salt Lake City project partners with the city of Salt Lake City and community organizations on two projects. The 9-Line Project will transform 3.2 acres of underutilized gravel along 1.7 miles of trail into a shaded urban forest and waterwise gardens used by more than 500,000 pedestrians and cyclists each year.
The Sioux Falls project partners with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to convert a 16.3-acre former industrial quarry into a park with walking trails, gathering spaces and opportunities for residents to explore nature along the water’s edge.
The Bezos Earth Fund launched the Greening America’s Cities initiative in 2023 to help communities transform underused urban land into parks and natural spaces that improve environmental resilience and public access to green space.
Photo by Ahnaf Piash from Pexels
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