By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
April 29, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Independence Plaza Neighborhood Council is part of a pilot program that, if successful, will help feed more neighborhoods around Kansas City in the future.

Last Friday, on Arbor Day, the Giving Grove, along with help from the Parks and Recreation Department and residential volunteers, planted fruit trees, nuts and berries at Harmony Park. Rob Reiman, executive director of the Giving Grove, said they’re planting these trees to help fight food displacement in the urban core. With help from the Giving Grove, they’ll help teach area residents how to properly care for the trees and when fully grown, they will be able to eat the fruits and nuts grown in their park.

“It’s the neighborhood’s orchard,” Reiman said.

The group, plus the dozen volunteers who braved the chilly weather, planted six apple trees, three pear trees, three bush cherries and three hazelnut trees. Reiman explained the neighborhood will care for the trees, not the parks department.

“I went to a recent [Independence Plaza] neighborhood meeting and people immediately signed up to care for the trees,” Reiman said. “It’ll be about two years of care before they [the neighborhood] can start eating from the trees.”

Reiman noted they’restill working out the details with the parks department for access to water. If all goes well, more orchards will be planted in the future at various parks in the city.

“This is a cool way to get the neighborhood engaged,” Reiman said.

Augusta Wilbon couldn’t agree more. Wilbon lives near the park and was at there Friday as the trees were being planted. She said she’s been working a long time to help improve Harmony Park. This summer, when she has here three grandchildren visiting, she said she’ll be offering up their services, to help any way they can.

“This is an ultimate accomplishment for us,” Wilbon said.

Tom Ribera, president of the Independence Neighborhood Plaza Council, said the trees are one of many great things that are going on in the neighborhood and the Northeast. He added the trees and the food they will produce will have a huge pay-off in the neighborhood.

“Hopefully this pilot program grows throughout the city,” Ribera said. “It’ll be nice to know that it started here.”