Jeff Bezos invests $100 million to turn vacant land into parks in eight US cities

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has allocated $100 million to transform neglected urban lands into public parks and wildlife habitats across eight American cities. The investment, part of the Bezos Earth Fund's Greening America's Cities program, announced on 7 July 2026, supports diverse projects ranging from restoring 600 vacant properties in Cleveland to creating a new park on a former motorway ramp in Little Rock.

The initiatives aim to enhance access to nature and repurpose overlooked land. Projects in Allentown, Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Sioux Falls will feature native plants, trees, and recreational amenities. In Cleveland, the effort will convert 600 vacant properties into a network of green spaces dispersed across neighbourhoods, addressing decades of underinvestment and health challenges.

Indianapolis plans to restore a 25-acre park along the White River, featuring wetland restoration, additional trees, expanded trails, sports facilities, and community gardens. Salt Lake City will develop two green spaces: a shaded area along the 9-Line trail and a former industrial brownfield in downtown, both designed to provide shade, water-wise landscaping, and public gathering areas.

Los Angeles will expand green spaces around the Watts Towers Arts Center, enhancing access to culture and nature for over 50,000 annual visitors.