Terre Haute Creates Pocket Parks From Vacant Lots

Terre Haute will transform vacant city-owned parcels into pocket parks using $177,823 in federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The city received the grant through the Indiana DNR Community & Urban Forestry Department and the USDA U.S. Forest Service. The money will support tree planting and green space expansion.

The Department of Redevelopment owns numerous lots too small for residential development. These parcels, often less than a quarter acre, cannot meet minimum size requirements for new homes. Rather than leave them vacant, the city will develop them into small public gathering spaces with seating, walking paths, and play elements.

City departments will collaborate on the projects and use available state grants to supplement the federal funding and reduce costs.

Residents can view planned locations at terrehaute.in.gov/departments/engineering/pocketpark.php.