In Merrillville, the town says it will begin planting hundreds of apple trees this Spring to develop what’s believed will be the first local community apple orchards. “I’m unaware of any municipalities that have a similar project,” said Merrillville Stormwater Utility Executive Director Matt Lake. “Orchards are typically not publicly owned,” Lake added. Nearly 300 dwarf apple trees that will reach 8 to 10 feet in height will be planted at Pruzin Park on Tyler Place and Rosenbaum Park on West 74th Avenue, each with five different varieties – Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and McIntosh. The public can pick apples as soon as the trees begin producing fruit, possibly the second or third growing season, the town said. “We selected the species based on their tolerance as well as a variety for desired use” Lake said. The Pruzin trees will be delivered in early May, and the Rosenbaum trees will be delivered at the end of May. He said the smaller tree varieties were chosen to make it easier for people to harvest fruit from them and for overall maintenance. Regular apple trees can reach 18-30 feet tall.
You can hear more about the project in our Region Newsmakers interview at News Audio on Demand under the News dropdown menu on our website.
“Merrillville has always prided itself on its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its residents,” said Merrillville Town Council President Rick Bella. “This apple orchard initiative not only adds to the scenic beauty of our parks but also promotes sustainable practices and cultivates a deeper connection to nature within our community.”
Lake said people are accustomed to seeing trees in parks, but the apple orchard concept puts a whole different dynamic on urban forestry while providing healthy aspects of fresh fruit for residents. “If this project is successful, we can replicate this in other areas of town where people can go to pick apples or other fruit and use them for kids’ lunches or preserve them by canning the fruit for other culinary uses,” Lake said. He also said fresh and healthy apples picked straight off the tree can last longer than store-bought apples when refrigerated.“The difference is amazing,” he said. Here is a link to the full news release .
As part of the project, the Northwest Indiana Tree Planting Consortium is hosting a free tree planting and maintenance event Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Merrillville. Visit bit.ly/3W7oOtA for more details about the tree event and to register. The program is limited to 40 participants. Attendees must bring their own safety glasses and gloves, the town said.
