With significant support from a $4 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative, we are embarking on a comprehensive regreening and renovation of Franklin Park, a 1.1-acre neighborhood space.

Serving more than 16,000 residents in a one-mile radius in one of the city’s most heat-vulnerable neighborhoods, Franklin Park is slated to receive improvements such as tree planting and shade structures, dedicated play areas for small children and other youth, intergenerational gathering space with seating and game tables, a community garden with water access, a basketball court, accessible pathways, restrooms, water spray areas, signage and parking.

Help us improve other Allentown parks with your donation today.

Specific improvements to Franklin Park are following a community-driven design plan undertaken this year. A timeline for construction will be provided once design and permitting are complete. The City of Allentown has already allocated up to $725,000 in federal funding toward design and construction of the park.

The park anchors the Franklin Park neighborhood. Once home to Franklin Elementary School (1888-1967), the city park has for generations served as a safe haven for local youth. For many residents, it serves as a shared front yard and a place where relationships and community grow.