Adopt-A-Lot (Los Angeles)

Adopt-A-Lot is a pilot program that enables community groups in park-poor Los Angeles neighborhoods to adopt city-owned vacant lots and transform them into community-serving public spaces. The program is a collaboration between the City of Los Angeles and the Free Lots Angeles collective, led by Inclusive Action for the City. The Adopt-A-Lot pilot gives community groups access to City-owned vacant lots for three, six, or 12 months through a simple application process and lease agreement. With support from Inclusive Action for the City, the community group leads a participatory budgeting process that allows local residents to choose the amenities they’d like to see on the lot and create a site plan for the new space.

This is one of many examples of cities providing low-cost access to vacant lots as an incentive for reuse, but also includes support in the development and implementation of the new use.