Nationwide, the Forest Legacy Program currently funds 44 projects in 32 states.

NPR: Saving Ranchland from Suburban Sprawl

Gilroy's directed two projects before "Legacy, " including the well-received George Clooney vehicle "Michael Clayton, " but nothing on such a large scale, he said.

CNN: How Tony Gilroy came back to 'Bourne'

The plan points up Bloomberg's ambition to leave a legacy of think-big projects, and it's poised to resolve a yearslong, sometimes divisive debate over what to do with the historic armory and what the city's poorest borough would get out of it.

WSJ: Celebs join project for giant NYC skating center

"Johannesburg is using the World Cup as a springboard to accelerate the city's development schedule agenda and to initiate projects that will provide a lasting legacy for its citizens, " says Sibongile Mazibuko, Johannesburg's executive for 2010.

BBC: World Cup to kick off SA economy

While most projects will require additional development, certain structures and venues will remain largely the same, according to Legacy Company press manager Sarita Bhatia.

BBC: Touring the cities of Olympics past