Park Pride, the only nonprofit organization working with communities across Atlanta to improve their neighborhood parks, is thrilled to announce that the Bezos Earth Fund recently awarded the organization $9.4M to lead a transformational park redesign project at Four Corners Park in the Peoplestown neighborhood.
Atlanta is one of eight cities receiving funding through the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative, which is investing $100M for community-designed parks, large-scale greenspace projects, and the creation of immersive outdoor areas. The program is rooted in what communities want and need from their public spaces.
“This is a significant investment in Four Corners Park and a significant investment in the residents of Peoplestown and the surrounding communities. When I created the Mayor’s Greenspace Advisory Council during my first year in office, we set out to expand access to quality parks and greenspace across our city, and Atlanta’s rise from 49th to 18th on the ParkScore Index reflects that focused work,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “This project is about more than a ranking. It is about investing in a Peoplestown community shaped by a history of redlining, displacement and infrastructure decisions that cut neighborhoods off from opportunity. Thank you to Park Pride and the Bezos Earth Fund for helping bring this community-led vision to life and deliver the beautiful, connected public space Peoplestown residents deserve.”
Four Corners Park has been a beloved community gathering place for decades, yet it has remained under-resourced. Residents of the Peoplestown community have long faced economic underinvestment and environmental challenges.
“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 space into community assets and encourage even more investment in green spaces — from government, philanthropy, and others — in cities across the country.”
Recognizing the communities’ commitment to the park and desire to improve the space to better meet residents’ needs, Park Pride has worked closely with neighbors over the past several years to create a comprehensive park plan and help bring it to fruition. With Park Pride’s earlier investments and this new support from the Bezos Earth Fund, the community now has the resources to bring its vision to life.
“This grant makes all the difference for our park and our community,” said Columbus Ward, a lifelong Peoplestown resident and local leader. “We have given our all to this park for decades, and seeing this project become real makes all the hard work well worth it. We give thanks to our Peoplestown community and our partners who made this possible.”
The new design will bring accessible play and recreation areas that will ensure that every child, regardless of ability, can fully participate. Flexible gathering spaces will expand the park’s capacity to host the full range of programming and community activity that neighbors have sustained here for decades. Improved circulation and safety features will make the park more navigable and welcoming from every entrance. Environmental infrastructure, along with dedicated community gardening and composting areas, will deepen the park’s role as a place of stewardship and hands-on connection to the natural world. And amenities that support year-round programming will cement Four Corners as a true community hub in every season — a space that serves residents from youth to seniors, day in and day out.
“Four Corners Park has long been a cornerstone of the Peoplestown community. This project not only transforms the park but also affirms what community-led vision can achieve when the right partners show up,” Park Pride President & CEO Michael Halicki said. “We are deeply grateful for the Bezos Earth Fund’s partnership and our shared belief that when we invest in parks and people, we invest in the future of a city.”