Part of the former Alexandra swimming pool site is to be turned into an ''edible landscape''.
A community group has been given permission to develop the eastern corner of Centennial Park in central Alexandra as a food forest.
Manuherikia Food Forest Group member Anna Robinson said anyone could take part in the project. She told the Vincent Community Board on Tuesday a garden would be developed in layers.
''Food crops will be the primary focus, not just for humans, but for bugs, insects and bees. We're looking at this as a bit of a pilot garden and hope it will provide inspiration and learning for the community.''
Grapes, olives, kiwifruit, hazelnuts, gooseberries, red and black currants and other fruit trees would be planted.
Central Otago District Council parks projects officer Nicola Copeland said the site was under-utilised and the group would take over maintenance of that part of the park.
The site was where a house, damaged in the 1999 floods, was once located and it was an ''expensive little section of the park to maintain.''
The food forest, also described as an ''edible landscape design'' would create a space where members of the public could interact and learn about the surrounding environment and growing produce, she said.
The closest neighbours supported the project and would keep an eye on the site. Board member Brian Fitzgerald said it was a wonderful idea and would ''tidy up a scruffy corner''.
The group would cover the cost of developing the food forest, which would be formed in stages, over three years.
The aim was to provide a space where people could collaborate and it would also be a place for learning, Ms Robinson said.
There was the potential for the group to work in with the Salvation Army community garden and give excess fruit to that organisation for distribution.
The park will remain open to the public.
