We Won

Thank you to all who supported and voted for us in the national competition to win a fruit tree orchard for our area. Please feel free to share the following news release and announcement on the orchard, the park, the victory party, and the dedication this week of the Muhammed Ali Peace Garden at the center.
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The "TulsaNorth/Turley" neighborhoods will receive a free fruit tree orchard after winning in national online voting competition during the first round of the contest sponsored by the National Fruit Tree Foundation and Edy's Fruit Bars.

More than 21,000 votes were cast from April 15 to May 31 for the proposed park project sponsored by A Third Place Community Foundation, 5920 N. Owasso Ave. The local volunteer nonprofit came in fourth place in the first round out of 120 community contestants, and the top five winners of each round receive an orchard. A party to celebrate the victory will be held at the orchard site, 6005 N. Johnstown Ave., on Thursday, June 9 from 6 to 8 pm. All supporters and area residents are welcome.

A team from the Fruit Tree Foundation will come to the northside area and work with area residents to plant the trees, to install an irrigation system, and to teach community workshops on growing fruit trees in the area, according to Rev. Ron Robinson, executive director of A Third Place Foundation.

The orchard will be planted at the emerging northside "pocket park" begun by the local group that will also include community gardens, play and social and eating areas, and a gazebo for bands. The Welcome Table KitchenGardenPark will be located at 6005 N. Johnstown on an acre overlooking downtown Tulsa where abandoned houses recently stood amid other trash and debris. The foundation purchased the property last year, and had the homes removed and is currently working on preparing the site for the start of the gardens.

"We are located in the 74126 zipcode which has the lowest life expectancy and many nutritional deficiencies," Robinson said. "The park and now the fruit tree orchard, along with our other gardens and health programs and summer daily feeding program at Cherokee School which starts June 8 through Aug. 5, and work with our area partners is aimed at elevating food justice and reversing these trends among our people."

Robinson said once the local group finds out when the planting day will be slated, a call will go out for volunteers to help with the planting, to attend the workshops, and help launch the new community food project.

A Third Place operates both the emerging park as well as the The Welcome Table Community Center and renewal projects in 74126 and 74130 zip codes.

It also received this Spring a grant to create a Muhammad Ali Peace Garden Grant for producing vegetables for families in the area. The garden will be located at the community center with the planting taking place the week of June 6-10 and dedication ceremony being held on Friday, June 10 at 7 pm. Volunteers are welcome. For more information call 918-794-4637, or 918-691-3223, or 918-430-1150 .

Background information and articles on the park can be read at http://turleyok.blogspot.com/2011/04/all-videos-news-design-plans-on-our.html. More information on the orchard competition, held each year, can be seen at www.communitiestakeroot.com.