The Edible Avenue is a beautiful walkway lined with trees, plants, and shrubs with edible parts
The Riverside Park Edible Avenue features an array of “edimentals,” plants that are both beautiful and contain an element that humans can eat. Lined with trees, plants, and shrubs with edible parts, the Edible Avenue also features two raised beds full of herbs and berries. The project is a collaboration among Team Haverhill, Haverhill Garden Club, and Haverhill’s Brightside, with critical support from the City of Haverhill.
Already a beloved part of the park, the Edible Avenue is drawing rave reviews from the hundreds of walkers and visitors to the ballfields, while fulfilling the Garden Club’s mission of beautifying the community, educating on the best gardening practices, and conserving environmental resources.
Edible Avenue trees include Eastern redbud, hickory nut, Cornelian cherry, serviceberry, and hazelnut. Shrubs include blueberry, spicebush, beach plum, and black chokeberry. Additional perennials planted in beautifully mulched beds feature daylilies, monarda, gaultheria, and agastache. The sturdy cedar raised beds are chock-filled with berries and herbs, and we have already donated some to non-profit food/cooking initiatives. Members of the public are encouraged to pick some for their own tables! 
We are also deeply engaged in establishing a long-term watering and maintenance plan so the Edible Avenue will remain in great shape for years to come. Anyone wishing to help weed and maintain the beds may send an email to cleanand.weed@mail.com.
Labels identify the common and botanical names for each plant. In the months to come we will be developing educational information on how the plants can be used for food.
The Pentucket Bank Charitable Foundation provided the “seed” money for the Edible Avenue by agreeing that a part of its grant to Team Haverhill could cover the cost of creating a formal garden design. Haverhill Garden Club then used that design to successfully apply for grants from the Haverhill Cultural Council and the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. The Haverhill Garden Club, Haverhill’s Brightside and Team Haverhill donated funds to establish the mulched beds, buy the wood for the raised beds, and install plant labels. 
The City of Haverhill supported the project by paving the avenue, planting trees, clearing an area of dead and dying trees, removing invasive plants, leveling and seeding the surrounding area, and providing watering to get the plants established.
Nunan Florist & Greenhouses donated many shrubs, bushes and plants that were then planted by volunteers, and Mayer Tree Service contributed several yards of mulch. Jean Berger of Green Jeans Design and Horticultural Services prepared the Edible Avenue planting plans. Whittier Technical High School students built the two handicapped-accessible raised planting beds. Ben Costello Landscape and Design prepared the beds. Karen Boyd of Karen B Design of New Hampshire created the informative welcome sign.
Special thanks to our partners:
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Edible Avenue – The Origin Story
Riverside Art in the Park and Edible Avenue stems from an idea proposed by Ann Jacobson at Team Haverhill’s 2021 Possible Dreams event. Originally known as the Bradford Rail Trail Extension Art Walk and Edible Avenue, the two-part plan included installing permanent sculptures and establishing an “Edible Avenue” garden of edible, mostly native, plants along the trail. In 2024 the project was moved to its current location at Riverside Park thanks to City support.
Questions? Email us at: info@TeamHaverhill.org