WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. (AP) — An organization in the Vermont town of Hartford sees an opportunity to grow more food on town-owned land.

The group, called Resilient Hartford, is first focusing on developing alternative uses for Ratcliffe Park, which is on the Connecticut River in White River Junction, and Clifford Park, which sits along the White River in West Hartford.

The Valley News reports the group, in conjunction with the Hartford Parks and Recreation Department, recently sent out a survey to see how people might want to use the town’s parks to grow food to share, either through community gardens or other uses.

Resilient Hartford member Kye Cochran said one of the reasons for prioritizing these parks is that some recreational activities that previously took place there have moved to the Maxfield Sports Complex.

Planting fruit and nut trees would be a better use of some of the less-used open space, she said, adding that it would improve the soil and cut down on fossil fuels used to mow the lawns.

“One of the things that we think is very important about Hartford (as a) town becoming more resilient in the face of climate change … is producing more food here,” Cochran said.