A community forest in Maine. A pocket park in Colorado. A community park in Massachusetts. These sites are among the recipients of the 2024 L.L.Bean Community Awards, which promote greater access to nature and foster community connections. The awards were announced in partnership with Trust for Public Land, which has worked with L.L.Bean since 2018 to support projects that create greater access to parks and public spaces.
The awards have been instrumental in ensuring that more individuals can enjoy outdoor spaces in their respective communities, with now 18 projects across 16 states, creating access to a park or public space for over 46,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of their home.
This year’s awardees include the Rodarte Community Center Forested Outdoor Classroom in Greeley, Colo.; Archdale Community Park in Boston; and the Rumford Community Forest in Rumford, Maine. Each of these transformative projects will receive grant support for park enhancement and community development efforts.
Diane Regas, president and CEO of Trust for Public Land lauded the partnership, which “…empowers us to provide beautiful, equitable outdoor spaces that foster community engagement and combat climate change.” She added, “By investing in park equity and community development, we are working toward our vision of creating accessible and inclusive green spaces for all.”
In Maine, TPL, Inland Woods + Trails, Northern Forest Center, and the Town of Rumford are creating a 446-acre community forest. This project will offer new opportunities for hiking, fishing, biking, and skiing, boosting Rumford’s recreation economy and providing educational and recreational benefits to several disadvantaged communities. The Rumford Community Forest will be highly accessible, with new parking areas and easy-grade trails. New recreation options will support Rumford’s growing recreation economy and help meet its goals of diversifying beyond the local paper mill.
In Boston, the Archdale Village public housing site has lacked a quality park since the playground burned down in the 1990s. In partnership with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and Archdale community members, TPL is working to design and build a vibrant park that meets the needs of this dynamic, multigenerational community. The project will feature a playground, green infrastructure, a basketball court and neighborhood gathering spaces. These amenities will provide a safe and accessible space for residents to enjoy outdoor activities, promoting health and community cohesion.
In Colorado, TPL is launching a statewide Pocket Forest program, with the East Greeley Pocket Park project at its heart. For nearly 20 years, this vacant lot has been underutilized, offering little benefit to the community. This new urban forest pocket park project, developed in partnership with the Al Fruente De Lucha Center and the City of Greeley’s Rodarte Community Center, envisions a safe, welcoming and shaded outdoor classroom designed by youth and seniors. This outdoor space will serve after-school students, teachers, families and the broader community, promoting nature-based and STEM learning, community gardening and youth-inspired art. The initiative addresses historical racial green-lining, restores wildlife habitats and fosters positive intergenerational development, bringing the benefits of nature closer to home.