Located within a designated food desert in the City of Newport News, Virginia’s Southeast neighborhood, a previously vacant five-acre site is set to become the third largest food forest in the United States. The Sarfan Food Forest will provide a low-maintenance, diverse selection of edible fruits, nuts, and vegetables for the community to enjoy. VHB is partnering with the Newport News Green Foundation, a local-nonprofit organization focused on preserving and managing green spaces throughout the city, to refine and advance the conceptual site plan originally developed by students from Virginia Tech’s Community Design Assistance Center.
This project received a $125,000 grant from the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America and the African American Mayors Association to the City of Newport News and the Foundation. Following numerous public meetings, each element of the site plan was created in collaboration with the residents and surrounding community in mind. The food forest will feature fruit laden trees, vegetable gardens, pollinator meadows, and an outdoor classroom. Additional amenities will include a berry patch, storytelling area underneath a large shade tree, and ADA-compliant pathways to provide inclusivity and accessibility for all.
