Vacant Land Project Examples

Across the country, people are transforming vacant lots to benefit their neighbors and neighborhoods. This database collects user-submitted examples of vacant land reuse projects to inspire you and show you what’s possible. Inclusion does not indicate that Community Progress endorses a project, nor is every project appropriate for every lot or community.

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Tatum Park

Tatum Park in Toledo, Ohio is a community green space spanning several lots with a native garden growing organic produce, a market that sells the produce, and a site for environmental eductaional engagement. Sonia Organics and Bench Farms worked in collaboration with the Lucas County Land Bank to demolish the abandoned home on the lot and prepare it for the new initiative.

Manhattan Marsh

The Manhattan Marsh Metropark is a park in the north of Toledo, Ohio that includes a boardwalk trail and over 90 acres of wetland for visitors to observe the natural wildlife. In collaboration with the City of Toledo and the Lucas County Land Bank, Metroparks Toledo was able to be transferred over 3 dozen parcels through the land bank’s tax foreclosure work.

Hematite Art Park

The Hematite Art Park is a public green space in front of Ishpeming High School (IHS) featuring art from local students, benches, a gazebo and landscaping. For the project, the Marquette County Land Bank in partnership with the IHS and the Ishpeming Community Foundation Youth Advisory Committee.

Faith Farms & Orchard

The Faith Farms & Orchard is a revitalization project through a USDA certified urban farm, pollinator park, and agricultural education center. In partnership with the City of Gary, Indiana, the FAITH organization was given a property with vacant homes that were demolished by the City to address issues of food justice.

Mack Park Food Farm

The Mack Park Food Farm is a municipal farm and food forest in Salem, MA that was transformed from an unused baseball field into a site that produces thousands of pounds of produce every year. Made possible through the Bright Cities Program and the Mayor’s Innovation Project.

Terra Firma

Terra Firma is a five-year initiative by Emerald South to beautify, maintain, and activate over 400 acres of vacant lots on Chicago’s mid-South Side. The project’s goals are to Clean, Green, Beautify, Activate, Own and Develop vacant lots, seeing them as valuable resources.

A New View Camden

“A New View Camden” was a temporary public art instillation placed on 6 illegal dumping sites. As winners of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, the City of Camden sought to increase civic pride and tranform the perception of Camden through art that empowers its residents.

The Pearl Street Garden Microforest

The Pearl Street Garden microforest is a native-tree-and-shrub garden in Providence that seeks to promote biodiversity in a residential landscape. In collaboration with the Avenue Concept, the Cooperative set to work powered by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through Groundworks USA.

Keep Growing Detroit Farm

The Keep Growing Detroit Farm is the place where all of our work comes together. Our farm is where half of the Garden Resource Program transplants and the Motown Music garlic seed is grown. It’s where many of our workshops are hosted and where growers of all ages practice and hone their skills.