Earlier this year, Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund committed $9.4 million to an Atlanta park; here's what residents could gain

Four Corners Park in the Peoplestown neighborhood of Atlanta is said to be getting a anticipated change very soon. Based on what local residents say they need, a $9.4 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund will help turn underused land into a bigger park.

The project will bring new areas for sports, for growing plants, for learning and for outdoor fun. It also seeks to increase access to green space in a community that has faced decades of disinvestment. The massive funding makes this the biggest project for Park Pride, the Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that is in charge of the new design. The inputs are taken from the official website of Park Pride and a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

What will the $9.4 million grant bring to Four Corners Park

The expanded Four Corners Park is expected to offer much more than playground equipment and open lawns. Plans include covered basketball courts, expanded community gardens, a youth center, new playgrounds and a skateboarding area.

The redesign will also include classrooms, wetlands, improved lighting and electric vehicle charging stations. Accessible play areas will help children of different abilities take part in recreational activities.

The project will create more room for community gatherings and year-round programs. Better paths and safety features are also planned to make the park easier to navigate and more welcoming from its entrances.

Atlanta is one of eight U.S. cities selected for funding through the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative, which is investing $100 million in community-designed parks and other green spaces.

Tom Taylor, CEO and president of the Bezos Earth Fund, said green spaces should be part of everyday life, not something available only to certain communities.

“Those places shouldn’t be a luxury,” Taylor said.

Why was Peoplestown chosen for the investment

Four Corners Park has served as a gathering place for generations, but the neighbourhood has faced economic underinvestment and environmental challenges. The project aims to address the dearth of quality green space and at the same time giving residents a place to exercise, learn and spend time together.

Amanda Eichel, director of equitable urban solutions at the Bezos Earth Fund, said Atlanta stood out because residents had already worked on a plan to improve the park and had clearly expressed what they wanted from the space.

“The project transforms underutilized open space in Peoplestown into a vibrant neighborhood park designed around what residents have said they want and need,” Eichel said in a statement.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also linked the project to the city’s wider efforts to improve park access. Atlanta’s ParkScore has climbed from 49th at the start of its term to 18th earlier this year. The city claims about 85% of residents now live within a 10‑minute walk of a park compared with 72%.

A long-awaited change for local residents

Park Pride had already awarded Friends of Four Corners Park a grant in 2025 to begin improvements, including a playground, pavilion and walking path. The new funding will allow the neighborhood to pursue a much broader plan.

Columbus Ward, a lifelong Peoplestown resident, the project carries personal meaning for him. He remembers playing softball on the vacant lot more than 40 years ago. Some residents had doubted whether the money would ever arrive.

“We thought we might get some help, but we thought it might take 20 years for us to make this happen,” Ward said. “Now we got something that we can say we all worked on and we can say this is our park, Four Corners Park.”

Park Pride President and CEO Michael Halicki said the grant would make it possible to complete a vision residents had helped shape over several years. With the $9.4 million investment, Four Corners Park is set for a major transformation. For Peoplestown, the project means more places to play, gather, garden and learn, all within a neighborhood park shaped by the people who use it.