The Adopt-A-Lot program empowers residents to transform city-owned vacant land into temporary, community-serving spaces such as edible gardens, rainwater collection systems, and other urban agriculture projects. Designed to be low-barrier and accessible, the program allows participants to focus their energy and resources on activating land rather than navigating complicated processes.

All city-owned vacant lots that are not in the purchase pipeline or designated for other specific uses are eligible for adoption.

Since its launch in 2015, the program has supported the adoption of more than 150 vacant lots, helping to foster neighborhood connections, reimagine the potential of underutilized land, and promote environmental awareness.

Originally focused on supporting urban growers, Adopt-A-Lot is now entering a new chapter. Ten years later, we’re excited to expand the program to support a broader range of creative uses—and to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our communities for the next decade.

This year, our team is working to update and transform Adopt-A-Lot based on feedback from nonprofit organizations, current participants, and engaged residents like you. Your input is vital and will help shape a more inclusive, flexible, and impactful program. To learn more about the program’s origins, see our Vacant Lot Toolkit and Policy Guide (located in the document library on this page).