The town of University Park has restored a meadow to provide food and shelter for local wildlife and flowers for bees.

Working with the Honey Bee Lab at the University of Maryland, the town planted native grasses and flowers, including butterfly milkweed, purple coneflowers and wild senna as well as black-eyed Susans.

The goal was to restore the types of naturally occurring grasslands that have disappeared as development has spread along the Route 1 corridor and help fight the loss of native bees.

The meadows also help to filter runoff into local streams, helping reduce pollution and decrease the risk of flooding.

Last week, the town shared images of the field in full bloom, filled with black-eyed Susans and purple Spiderwort. New signs will go up soon identifying the flowers, grasses, bees and butterflies common in the area.

The field is located across Adelphi Road from the new Hyattsville library, behind the bus stop, but signs request that visitors refrain from walking through it.