Project to plant 200 trees in low-income Shreveport neighborhoods

On a sunny fall morning in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, Williams employees grabbed shovels and work gloves, while children walked to school bus stops.

Within an hour, employees had planted 25 fruit trees in a former community garden across from the former church that houses nonprofit Common Ground. The soil is rich here, said Common Ground CEO Lisa Cronin, and with careful tending, the trees will thrive.

The trees are among 200 that will be planted throughout Shreveport through a grant from Williams to the Arbor Day Foundation, which partnered with local nonprofit Shreveport Green, and its program ShreveCorps.

The Cedar Grove orchard will serve a low-income community that Common Ground is working to revitalize with nutritional programs and youth activities. With few grocery stores nearby, the plums, apples, figs and pears will be a source of food for those who live nearby.

“We are thrilled to welcome an urban orchard to the heart of Cedar Grove,” Cronin said. “Fresh fruit is something our community truly loves, and we look forward to watching this orchard come to life. This project is a testament to the power of community and the positive impact we can have when we come together.”

Several dozen Williams employees were on hand to plant the trees and clean up brush and debris.

“We are excited to volunteer with Shreveport Green and Common Ground,” said Tye Ragle, director of operations for Williams. “It’s about more than planting trees. For Williams employees, it’s about improving the community and helping our neighbors thrive. We hope this fruit orchard will benefit the residents of the Cedar Grove neighborhood for decades to come.”

Shreveport Green executive director Lauren Jones said the planting was part of the nonprofit’s ongoing revitalization initiative, which aims to transform blighted properties across the city into sustainable green spaces.

“These green spaces will help mitigate the urban heat island effect and provide fresh, nutritious fruit to neighborhoods with low access to grocery stores and fresh produce,” she said.

Cronin said she’s grateful to the Williams volunteers.

“I could tell from the minute they got out of their vehicles, they were ready to hit the ground running,” she said. “They’re asking what else they can do. It’s been fabulous to see how quickly this has been done and how nice it’s going to look.”