The Bezos Earth Fund believes that people and communities can live in a city and still have green spaces. The Greening America’s Cities initiative is a commitment to do just that – create green spaces that provide shade from heat, space for families and friends, and access to nature, in urban neighborhoods all across the United States.
Initiatives
Greening America’s Cities
Why Access to Urban Green Spaces Matters for Every American Community
Green spaces such as parks, community gardens, nature trails, and tree canopies along city blocks are vital to the health and well-being of all Americans. These spaces not only serve as beautiful havens in a bustling city, but play a role in climate resilience for all communities by creating shade and areas to cool off as extreme weather events and record-breaking temperatures become more frequent.
Whether it's a shaded retreat, a gathering place for families, or a tree-lined path on the daily commute, access to nature in urban environments matters.
That's the driving force behind Greening America's Cities — a $400 million goal to transform neglected "gray" or unused spaces across cities into vibrant, living landscapes that communities can connect with every day. Working side-by-side with communities, Greening America Cities is breathing new life into forgotten corners of cities and creating urban green spaces that residents are proud to call their own.
Where Greening America's Cities Is Making an Impact
Starting in 2023, so far Greening America’s Cities has supported projects in: Albuquerque, New Mexico, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Georgia, Cleveland, Ohio, Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana, Little Rock, Arkansas, Los Angeles, California, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wilmington, Delaware.
Each project is shaped by the priorities and needs of local communities and championed by local government. These spaces have and will become vibrant, enduring places where residents can gather, connect, and take pride in their neighborhoods.
Our work demonstrates how philanthropy, local communities, and public- and private-sector partners can collaborate to drive urban revitalization. By aligning investments from local, state, and federal governments, these partnerships are creating greener, healthier, and more resilient cities for generations to come.
Find out more about Greening America’s Cities: