Kansas City’s largest urban orchard located in Kansas City’s largest park officially opened on September 28 with a ribbon cutting ceremony among the fruit trees.
KC Parks Deputy Director Terry Rynard welcomed the crowd and introduced the featured speakers/stakeholders that included 5th District City Councilwoman Alissia Canady, 5th District City Councilman Lee Barnes Jr., Darrian Davis and Jamilla Johnson with the Kansas City Urban Farm Co-op and The Giving Grove Executive Director Robert Reiman.
Last spring, the organizations teamed up to plant 200 fruit trees–a self-proclaimed “fruit forest” in the heart of the city. The main orchard, located adjacent to the Off-Leash Dog Park, is just over an acre in size and includes fencing for deer protection, waterline with four frost-free hydrants, and a drip irrigation system.
- 12 Peach trees
- 26 European Pear trees
- 26 Asian Pear trees
- 66 Semi-Dwarf Apple trees
- 19 Bush Cherries
- 14 Fig trees
- 108’ of blackberries
- 110’ of raspberries
The site also includes an 8,000 square foot public grazing orchard with the following plantings:
- 2 Bush Cherries
- 4 Semi-Dwarf Apple trees
- 4 Asian Pear trees
- 4 European Pear trees
- 3 Peach trees
- 2 Jujube trees
Once all phases are complete, the Swope Park Orchard will be one of the largest urban orchards in the country yielding more than 1 million pounds of fresh fruit over the next 20 years.