SOUTH BEND — South Bend’s aggressive program to demolish vacant and abandoned homes left the city with hundreds of empty lots.

Some 670 substandard homes fell in a demolition derby that had a dramatic impact on some South Bend neighborhoods.

“About 25 percent of this neighborhood was left with vacant lots and so Mayor Pete’s initiative brought them from negative to neutral status, we’re looking to bring them from neutral to positive,” said Sara Boukdad with the Bowmen Creek Educational Ecosystem.

250-trees were planted last Arbor Day on three vacant lots on the southeast side. “We have 250-trees, nine different species all native trees,” said South Bend City Arborist Brent Thompson. “We have red maple, red oaks, lindens, sycamores, basswoods.”

The tree nursery has suddenly taken root where families pulled up roots long ago.

“Some people are really surprised to see this in their backyard, they’re, they’re really glad to have some positive adaptive reuse of vacant lots,” said Sara Boukdad.

The nursery is a collaborative effort between the city and the community.
The trees were planted by volunteers from Lippert Components on Arbor Day while interns with the Bowman Creek Educational Ecosystem spent the summer installing drip irrigation.

Down the road in three to five years, trees that cost $20 to plant will be worth $200 to $300 and perhaps the program that started here will be ready to branch out.

“We’re thinking about trying to start a fruit tree nursey and orchard at our Elbel nursery and then move the trees around to maybe a park or a vacant lot and use it as like a community garden to let people come and pick the fruit,” said Thompson.

Source: WNDU