LOS ANGELES
,
July 18, 2023
(press release)
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“From cooling our communities, to absorbing floodwaters, and reducing greenhouse gases, urban greening is vital to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and ensure healthier cities overall, especially in communities that have been underserved,” said Diane Regas, TPL President and CEO. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Bezos Earth Fund for their generous support and for the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives through the power of nature. “ There is clear evidence that “greening” U.S. cities with more — and better — parks, trees, and community gardens can improve physical and mental health, increase local resilience to climate impacts like extreme heat and reduce energy consumption. Health benefits come from improved air quality, more physical activity, reduced heat, the stress reduction effect of green spaces, and the opportunities green spaces create for social interaction. Historic systems of segregation, exclusion, and land dispossession have led to many communities living in nature-deprived areas. Consequently, these communities often do not benefit from nature’s benefits, like air and water purification, climate mitigation, or biodiversity. “Green spaces are critical for people and the planet. The Bezos Earth Fund is proud to partner with local communities and government to expand urban green spaces,” said Andrew Steer, President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. “In partnership, this new initiative will support historically underserved communities, supporting their health and well-being.” The Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative starts with community projects in five cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Wilmington, Delaware. The grant from the Bezos Earth Fund will allow Trust for Public Land to provide two fellows from its Community Outreach with Resident Experts (C.O.R.E.) program to facilitate collaboration for Greening America’s Cities grantees in cities where TPL works closely with communities, including in Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. The initiative will extend through 2030 and expand to new communities, building on its earlier $300 million in funding to climate and environmental justice groups in the U.S. For more information, visit: www.BezosEarthFund.org. ### About Trust for Public Land Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $93 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
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