Jeff Bezos is putting $100 million into neglected city land; eight US cities will turn abandoned spaces into parks and wildlife habitats |

Jeff Bezos is putting $100 million into neglected urban land across eight American cities, funding plans to turn vacant plots, former industrial sites and unused spaces into public parks and wildlife habitats. As reported by Bezos Earth Fund, announced on 7 July 2026, the investment will support projects ranging from the restoration of 600 vacant properties in Cleveland to a new park on a former motorway ramp in Little Rock. Other plans include planting trees along a popular Salt Lake City trail, restoring wetlands in Indianapolis and expanding green space around Los Angeles’ historic Watts Towers. The projects are designed to improve access to nature while giving overlooked land a new purpose.

Jeff Bezos’ $100 million investment targets vacant land in eight US cities

The investment, announced on 7 July 2026, forms part of the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities programme. The eight recipients are Allentown in Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Little Rock in Arkansas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Sioux Falls in South Dakota.The projects differ in scale and purpose. Some focus on bringing shade and play areas to neighbourhoods with limited access to green space. Others involve restoring wetlands, creating new walking routes or turning vacant properties into small natural areas scattered throughout residential districts. Native plants and trees will feature across the programme, alongside facilities for recreation and community activities.Reportedly, the latest announcement is the second round of funding under the programme. With the new investment, the Bezos Earth Fund says it has committed $150 million across 11 cities, working towards a wider goal of investing $400 million in urban green spaces across the United States.

8 US cities will get Jeff Bezos’ $100 million for new parks

Jeff Bezos’ $100 million investment across US cities

Cleveland plans to transform 600 vacant properties

Cleveland’s project will address a large concentration of vacant land in the city’s Hough and St. Clair-Superior neighbourhoods. Together, the areas are home to around 17,000 people and have experienced decades of underinvestment, leaving them with extensive empty plots, limited tree cover and significant health challenges.More than half of the parcels in these neighbourhoods are vacant, according to the project announcement. Rather than concentrating the investment on a single large park, the initiative will convert 600 publicly owned properties into a network of green spaces distributed across residential blocks.Most of the sites will be naturalised landscapes, with selected plots developed into pocket parks, gathering areas or places for urban agriculture. Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb said, “This investment from the Bezos Earth Fund is a powerful endorsement of Cleveland’s commitment to neighborhood revitalization and environmental justice.”

Indianapolis will restore land along the White River

In Indianapolis, the grant will support a 25-acre park at Reverend Mozel Sanders Park, along the White River. The project is intended to serve around 6,500 neighbourhood residents while also providing a destination for people elsewhere on the city’s west side.Plans include wetland restoration, additional trees and expanded trails, together with basketball courts, multi-use sports fields, a community farm, an orchard and open lawns for gatherings. Two miles of new trails are expected to connect the park with existing regional greenways, giving pedestrians and cyclists more continuous routes through the area. Public art will also form part of the development, reflecting the history of the surrounding community.

Jeff Bezos’ funding will bring trees and shade to Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has selected two locations for its share of the funding: the 9-Line trail and Fleet Block. Both already have some of the infrastructure needed for public use, but lack the planted landscapes that would provide shade and make the areas greener.Along the 9-Line, the project will replace 3.2 acres of underused gravel with trees, water-efficient gardens and shaded areas. The work will extend along 1.7 miles of trail, which is used by more than 500,000 cyclists and pedestrians each year.The second site, Fleet Block, covers 2.4 acres in central Salt Lake City. The former industrial brownfield is due to become a public green space with a denser canopy of trees and other vegetation. Its location in the downtown area makes it a different kind of project from the trail improvements, bringing planted space to a site previously associated with industrial use.Mayor Erin Mendenhall described, “As our summers get hotter, shade and green space are no longer just nice additions—they are essential public infrastructure.”“I’m grateful the Bezos Earth Fund shares our vision on these projects, which will help us bring much-needed trees, water-wise landscaping, and new amenities to our city, creating a cooler, healthier, and more welcoming public spaces for the more than 16,000 Salt Lakers who live within a 10-minute walk.”

Los Angeles will expand the green space around Watts Towers

In Los Angeles, the funding will help develop a five-acre park on the Watts Towers Arts Center campus. The site is an established cultural destination, but parts of its grounds remain underused. The proposed work will create more room for visitors to explore the campus and take part in arts and educational activities.The project is expected to improve the campus as a public gathering place while retaining its cultural purpose. The announcement estimates that the site attracts more than 50,000 visitors annually, and the expanded green space is intended to support its role as a community destination ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.The Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust has worked with the Watts Towers Arts Center on community engagement, fundraising and design over the past 15 years. The new funding will help move that work towards construction, under the stewardship of the city.

Little Rock will turn a former motorway ramp into a park

Little Rock’s 30 Crossing project will reclaim a 20-acre site in the city centre that became available following the removal of a cloverleaf exit ramp. The space is planned as a new destination park, connecting existing areas of public green space along the riverfront.The proposed park will link more than 100 acres of interconnected green space, including Riverfront Park and the grounds around the Clinton Presidential Center. The Bezos Earth Fund grant will support the initial phase of the project. According to the announcement, that contribution is intended to help attract a further $60 million to $70 million in fundraising for the development.

Allentown and Atlanta will create parks for local residents

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, the funding will be used to redevelop a 1.1-acre plot covered largely by asphalt in a neighbourhood particularly vulnerable to heat. The planned Franklin Park is expected to serve more than 16,000 residents.The design includes shade structures and trees, play areas for children and young people, accessible paths, seating and game tables. A community garden with water access and a basketball court will provide additional activities, while restrooms and parking are also included in the plans. Atlanta’s Four Corners Park will cover 4.8 acres in Peoplestown, a neighbourhood in the city’s southwest. The development, led by Park Pride, will provide accessible play and recreation areas, flexible gathering spaces and community gardening facilities, with composting and environmental infrastructure included in the design. The project has been shaped by residents’ input and is expected to serve more than 3,500 people.

Sioux Falls will reclaim a former quarry

At Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the project will transform a degraded industrial quarry into a 16.3-acre public park. The site sits beside one of the city’s most diverse neighbourhoods and is expected to become a place where residents can spend time outdoors without leaving the area.The plans include trails, access to the water’s edge and open spaces for gathering. Rather than filling the site with recreational facilities alone, the design will make use of the landscape itself, allowing visitors to explore the area and spend time near the water.The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has committed to the long-term operation and maintenance of the park. That commitment is part of the wider approach, which requires cities to consider how the new spaces will be looked after once construction is complete.