In the heart of Veterans Park in New Carrollton, a quiet change is taking root—one that’s about fresh fruit, shared space and community hope. Thanks to a grant from the Purple Line project’s community fund, this small park is becoming a “food forest” where apple, fig, pawpaw and other fruit-and-nut trees are being planted for the neighborhood to enjoy.
Here’s how it plays out: the city planted two kinds of apple trees, a peach tree, a fig tree, a pecan tree and pawpaw trees. Some of the earlier fruits—like the blackberries and pawpaws—could be ready as soon as next year, with the larger trees coming into their own a bit later.
But this isn’t just about planting trees. It’s about planting the idea of the community joining in. The horticulturalist helping lead the effort envisioned a place where folks can stroll by, pick something fresh, share a bit with a neighbor, exchange a tip over herbs in new planters, and feel more connected to the land and to each other.
While the food forest won’t instantly replace a missing nearby grocery store, it does offer something meaningful—a handful of fresh fruits and vegetables, growing where people live, side-by-side with each other.
In essence, this little grove of trees is more than just plants in the ground. It’s a seed of possibility—a place where green things grow and people grow closer, too.