Spanning more than two miles along Oyster Creek Trail, the Missouri City Edible Arbor Trail offers a recreational trail with a variety of fruits and plants for residents to pick for free.

Missouri City horticulturist Paul Wierzbicki constructed the arbor trail in 2010 by planting 50 trees with the help of community leaders and businesses. Five years later, Wierzbicki has grown the trail to include 213 trees within 19 groves.

“There is really no faster way to connect humans with trees and their food than to feature some kind of demonstration trail that features both,” he said.

The arbor trail features a selection of fruit that was picked to withstand the harsh Texas environment, Wierzbicki said. Each grove costs approximately $2,000 to plant and is funded by donations from local businesses and organizations.

Although the arbor trail is nearing full capacity, Wierzbicki said the trail is having an everlasting effect on the surrounding ecosystem by providing a home for the local wildlife.

“[Visitors] will see all different kinds of birds that I have not seen before this project,” he said.