Trust for Public Land Announces L. Anton Seals Jr. as a National Board Member

Trust for Public Land (TPL) announced today that L. Anton Seals Jr. has joined TPL's National Board of Directors to help accelerate connecting every community to the joys and benefits of the outdoors.

"As a native of South Shore Chicago deeply involved in community engagement, I recognize the powerful influence that parks and outdoor spaces can have," said L Anton Seals Jr., member of TPL's National Board of Directors. "Parks are more than just places for recreation; they play a crucial role in public health, climate resilience, and building community connections. Through my work with Grow Greater Englewood and The Englewood Nature Trail, a project actively supported by TPL, I've seen firsthand the positive impact parks can have on communities and their role in closing the park equity gap. TPL's leadership in Chicago and the state is evident with 41 active park projects in Illinois alone, connecting over 166,000 people to the outdoors. I am enthusiastic about contributing to this mission as a National Board Member."

A South Shore Chicago native, Anton is a multi-hyphenate leader, organizer, entrepreneur, educator, community and political strategist focused on authentic equity in action via community engagement, advocacy and social enterprise development. Anton also works in the arts and cultural space, producing campaigns for feature documentaries

As co-founder and Executive Director (Lead Steward) of Grow Greater Englewood (GGE), Anton is leading a social enterprise focused on building an equitable and resilient food system through a network of Black and brown urban farmers who are transforming vacant city lots into farm businesses. GGE is currently developing an Agro-Eco District centering Black residents and preserving Black culture, anchored by the Englewood Nature Trail. Anton was a 2018 Next City Vanguard Fellow, 2010 German Marshall Fellow, and has served as Chair of the Woods Fund in Chicago, as well as on other boards. He currently lives in South Shore, Illinois with his wife Amissah and son Anton III.

Parks across the country are an essential part of improving public health, protecting vulnerable communities from the impacts of the climate crisis and building strong community cohesion. And yet, 100 million people, including 28 million kids, do not have access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk from home. Access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need - yet there is a significant outdoor equity gap in America. Parks located in communities of color are half the size of parks in predominantly white neighborhoods and serve five times more people per acre. TPL aim to change that and is leading a nationwide movement to close this outdoor equity gap by creating parks in the communities that need them most.

Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. TPL has 41 active park projects in Illinois, connecting over 166,000 people to the outdoors

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.