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Bezos Earth Fund pledges $30 million to 30 Crossing Park in Little Rock City
Summary
Tom Taylor of the Bezos Earth Fund pledged a $30,000,000 investment for 30 Crossing Park in Little Rock City as part of a $100,000,000 Greening America Cities commitment across eight U.S. cities; local and state officials hailed the public‑private partnership.
Tom Taylor, president of the Bezos Earth Fund, pledged $30,000,000 to support 30 Crossing Park in Little Rock City and said the pledge is part of a broader $100,000,000 commitment across eight U.S. cities under the Greening America Cities program.
The announcement came at a downtown ceremony where Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined Taylor and local leaders to praise the public‑private partnership behind the proposal. "This morning, we announced we're committing to invest $100,000,000 across 8 cities in The US ... and we're proud to work with the community of Little Rock to support the 30 crossing projects with this $30,000,000 investment," Tom Taylor said.
The investment is intended to help transform roughly 20 acres in the river market area into a destination park, reconnecting neighborhoods and reconnecting cultural institutions such as the Clinton Presidential Library and the Museum of Discovery into an urban greenway. Ruth Whitney, chairperson of the Little Rock Chamber Board of Directors, described 30 Crossing Park as "a flagship economic development project," saying it will make the city more attractive to talent and local business.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the project aligns with her administration's emphasis on outdoor recreation and family‑oriented public spaces. She cited other statewide efforts, including the Maumelle Pinnacles master plan, as part of broader work to expand access to trails and outdoor experiences.
Mayor Frank Scott Jr. thanked the Bezos Earth Fund, local chamber leaders and Arkansas Department of Transportation staff for securing the philanthropic support. He characterized the $30,000,000 pledge as "a big freaking deal" for the city and urged continued collaboration to move the master plan into implementation.
U.S. Rep. French Hill also offered remarks praising the partnership and the long‑term value the project will add for future generations.
Officials at the event described the commitment as philanthropic support for planning and construction of 30 Crossing Park; they did not announce a city funding vote or a construction start date at the ceremony. Organizers said the project will proceed through the established planning and coordination channels with state and local partners.
The ceremony closed with repeated calls from Mayor Scott to continue partnerships and to begin turning the plan into reality: "Let's go get it done," he said.
