As part of the Bezos Earth Fund Greening America’s Cities Initiative, Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the City of Cleveland will collaborate to turn underused urban land into vibrant green space

Cleveland, OH – July 7, 2026 – This week, Bezos Earth Fund announced a $100 million investment as part of its Greening America's Cities Initiative to fund community-designed parks, beautiful large scale green spaces, and immersive outdoor areas. Of that funding, $10 million was awarded to Western Reserve Land Conservancy for a partnership with the City of Cleveland for its Vacant Land Restoration Initiative.

“At the Bezos Earth Fund, we want to make the planet a place people can and want to live, and that includes making sure people have green spaces woven into daily life — places to cool down and get shade, bring their families, or simply walk through on their commute. Those places shouldn’t be a luxury,” said Tom Taylor, CEO and President of the Bezos Earth Fund. “Greening America’s Cities shows what’s possible when communities, local leaders, and partners come together to transform overlooked spaces into something extraordinary. Our hope is that these projects serve as a blueprint for turning underutilized spaces into community assets and encourage even more investment in green spaces — from government, philanthropy, and others — in cities across the country.”

The Vacant Land Restoration Initiative focuses on two adjacent neighborhoods on Cleveland's east side – Hough and St. Clair-Superior – home to approximately 17,000 residents and characterized by decades of disinvestment, high vacancy rates, low tree canopy, and disproportionate health burdens. More than half of all parcels in these neighborhoods are vacant, creating both fiscal strain for the city and daily challenges for residents. The initiative will transform 600 publicly owned parcels into a network of nature-based landscapes at the block level. Most parcels will become naturalized green spaces, with select sites supporting gathering areas, pocket parks, and urban agriculture – advancing both environmental resilience and community well-being.

“This investment from the Bezos Earth Fund is a powerful endorsement of Cleveland’s commitment to neighborhood revitalization and environmental justice,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Residents of Hough and St. Clair-Superior have lived with the effects of decades of disinvestment for far too long. Through this initiative, we will transform 600 publicly owned vacant parcels into a connected network of community spaces that support public health, neighborhood safety, and economic opportunity. By reimagining public land as assets for residents, we are strengthening the foundation for more resilient neighborhoods and advancing our vision of a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable Cleveland.” 

"We are grateful to the Bezos Earth Fund for helping Cleveland transform publicly owned vacant land into assets that benefit community health,” said Isaac Robb, Chief Urban Program Officer at Western Reserve Land Conservancy. “For too long, the environmental conditions in our neighborhoods have been treated as optional, when in fact they are part of our essential civic infrastructure. Parks obviously matter, but so does the vacant lot down the street and the tree outside your front door. We believe nature should not be a destination you have to travel to; it should be part of your everyday journey.

This investment allows us to improve hundreds of publicly owned parcels—one tree at a time, parcel by parcel, and block by block—while working alongside residents and partners who have long championed these neighborhoods. Together, we are fostering greener, healthier communities where nature is part of everyone’s daily life."

About Western Reserve Land Conservancy
The nationally accredited Western Reserve Land Conservancy—the largest local land trust in Ohio—provides people throughout Ohio with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration. To date, the Land Conservancy has permanently preserved 80,561 acres across nearly 1,000 properties; helped create and expand 253 public parks and preserves; led the efforts to create 69 county land banks across Ohio; and planted and distributed more than 18,000 trees in Cleveland. For more information, visit wrlandconservancy.org.

About the Bezos Earth Fund
The Bezos Earth Fund, guided by the belief that Earth is the best planet in this solar system, works to protect and restore the natural world. Working with partners around the globe, we are developing innovative solutions to ensure the planet remains a place we can—and want to—live on. Based in the United States, the organization is led by President and CEO Tom Taylor, under the direction of Chairman Jeff Bezos and Vice Chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos. To learn more, visit: bezosearthfund.org