Thousands of blueberry bushes are heavy with fruit at Charlotte's Blueberry Park, and anyone in Tacoma can walk in and pick for free.

The 20-acre park at 7402 E. D St. in South Tacoma is the city's only free food forest, home to more than 3,372 blueberry shrubs across five varieties.

Peak picking runs through August, according to the Tacoma News Tribune, which reported July 29, that children were already frolicking between the tall bushes on a Tuesday afternoon visit.

Parks Tacoma doesn't use pesticides or fertilizers on the plants.

"Park visitors can pick anywhere in the park," Parks Tacoma spokesperson Stacia Glenn told the News Tribune. "We ask that they mind where they step and do not over-harvest, so there is enough for everyone who wants blueberries."

Glenn said she is unaware of any other park in the area that offers blueberries or fruit the public can pick. Tacoma city code generally discourages removing plants from public spaces, but Charlotte's Blueberry Park is a specific exception.

More than blueberries

Beyond the signature shrubs, the food forest also produces plums, persimmons, herbs, hazelnuts, figs, and walnuts available for foraging year-round.

A farm turned park

The site operated as Berg's Blueberry Farm from 1952 until 1968, according to Parks Tacoma's official page. The agency officially took over the land in 1997 and preserved it as a public park.

If you go

The season runs through August, and the park is open daily.