ALLENTOWN, Pa. (September 12, 2026) – City of Allentown officials, community leaders and a representative from the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative today shared a first look at plans for the renovation of Franklin Park, a vital 1.1-acre neighborhood space west of 14th street between Chew and Turner streets.
A rendering of the extensive project showed intergenerational amenities including two playgrounds, a pavilion with restrooms, community garden beds, a full-size basketball court, splash pad, exercise equipment, seating and game tables, and a bike station integrated into a community-driven design that includes an open lawn and over 40 trees.
The project was supported by a $4 million Bezos Earth Fund grant to The Allentown Parknership, the official charitable partner of the City of Allentown’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“Franklin Park shows us what happens when community organizations, city government, philanthropy, and others work alongside residents to achieve a shared vision,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk. “The park improvements are a huge win for the neighborhood, but the biggest success is empowered residents who know that they have a partner in improving the place that they live.”
The announcement preceded a “Party In The Park” community celebration coordinated by Ripple Community Inc., in partnership with Cohesion Network, Community Bike Works, Ripple Church, and other neighborhood-based partners. The event gathers 200+ neighbors with food, games, entertainment, and neighborhood resources from noon to 3 p.m.
An essential space for the neighborhood
Anchoring the Franklin Park neighborhood, the park serves more than 16,000 residents in a one-mile radius in one of the city’s most heat-vulnerable areas. Once home to Franklin Elementary School (1888-1967), the city park has for generations served as a safe haven for local youth. For many, it serves as a shared front yard and a place where relationships and community grow.
For more than 20 years, Franklin Park residents and community organizations have worked together to strengthen neighborhood connections, expand access to opportunity, and respond to challenges including housing pressures, economic change, and social disconnection. In recent years, that collaboration has grown into Our Franklin Park, a coalition of residents and more than 10 organizations, including Ripple Community Inc., Cohesion Network, Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health, Community Bike Works, and other neighborhood partners.
“Through Our Franklin Park and partner organizations, the neighborhood has supported monthly community meetings, gardening and youth activities, the annual Party in the Park, Earth Day cleanups and celebrations, summer programming, a mobile market, and other year-round activities in Franklin Park,” said Sherri Binder, executive director of Ripple Community Inc. “This $4 million investment gives us an extraordinary opportunity to build on years of community stewardship and create a park that better supports the way people already gather, play, and connect here.”
First project in Pennsylvania for Greening America Cities initiative
This is the second round of funding as part of the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America Cities initiative, with a total of $150 million deployed across 11 cities so far, towards its commitment to invest a total of $400 million to prioritize green spaces as essential infrastructure across the United States. The initiative works alongside communities to create and expand vibrant green spaces that bring people together, improve access to nature, and help make neighborhoods healthier and more resilient.
Projects from the first round of the program, which started in 2023, have resulted in hubs that combine urban agriculture, fresh food access, and local entrepreneurship; community gardens on previously vacant land; restored outdoor trails that were previously full of debris and materials; and vibrant parks that promote nature and local landscapes; among many other projects across Albuquerque, NM; Atlanta; Chicago; Los Angeles; and Wilmington, DE.
Allentown is one of eight urban areas receiving a total $100 million in grants announced by the Bezos Earth Fund in July, as part of its Greening America’s Cities program.
“The Allentown community came together around a shared vision: to transform Franklin Park into a beautiful green space that will serve thousands of residents for years to come.” said Diana Johnson, Senior Manager, Greening America’s Cities at the Bezos Earth Fund. “This is exactly what our Greening America’s Cities initiative is all about — helping communities create joyful places where people can connect with nature, and each other, right where they live.”
Promise and potential of Parknership evidenced by project, grant
The $4 million grant represents the single largest grant The Allentown Parknership has received since its founding in 2024 and is indicative of the scope and scale of resources the organization intends to seek to enhance quality of life for city residents.
“Our aim is to make a lasting impact by connecting our community with resources that will make a positive difference for our neighbors,” said Parknership Executive Director Ruffian Tittmann. “We know people have a passion for amazing parks and valuable open spaces. We can open opportunities for people and organizations to join us as champions for Allentown’s parks and recreation programs.”
About Our Franklin Park
Our Franklin Park is a place-based network of residents and more than 10 organizations working together to create a neighborhood where people feel connected and can thrive. Building on a long history of community collaboration in Franklin Park, the coalition works to preserve affordable housing, strengthen neighborhood connections, and create opportunities for residents. Its work includes neighborhood gatherings and events, park programming, community gardening, cleanups, and other initiatives that bring neighbors together and support the community. Learn more at ourfranklinpark.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.
About The Allentown Parknership
As Allentown’s charitable partner for Parks and Recreation, The Allentown Parknership enhances, activates and invests in public spaces to connect people and parks. It was launched in 2024 to collaborate with the City of Allentown to expand and enhance the city’s parks, playgrounds and recreation programs to meet the community’s diverse needs. The non-profit Allentown Parknership builds on the legacy of General Harry C. Trexler, considered by many to be the founder of the Allentown Park System. More information is available — and donations can be made — at allentownparknership.org
Information provided to TVL by:
Drabenstott Communications Group
