January 01, 2009
We live in a generous and forward-thinking community.
A recent Omaha World-Herald article examining local philanthropy noted that despite the economic uncertainty of the times, the Omaha Community Foundation recorded its third best year in charitable donations in 2008. President and CEO Mike Leighton said a consistent flow of new dollars also allowed the organization to continue making grants to other nonprofit organizations in the area and that the final 2008 grant total is expected to exceed the $57 million in grants awarded in 2007.
That, indeed, is generous.
Omahans also demonstrated a generosity of vision in 2008, one that partners strategic thinking with community involvement to create a better Omaha for today’s residents and future generations. A case in point is the November 2008 launch of Environment Omaha, a two-year initiative that will result in the creation of an Environmental Element for the city’s master plan. In the words of Mayor Mike Fahey, “It is incumbent upon Omahans to present future generations a community in better condition that when we inherited it. By institutionalizing an environmental aspect into our city’s future growth and development, we will hold ourselves to a high standard and improve the quality of life for all our citizens.”
As Omaha by Design enters 2009, we do so with a firm belief that the proper application of urban design principles has an integral role in the future success of our city and a renewed commitment to the implementation of projects that lay the groundwork for this success. Our work agenda for the next 12 months:
Environment Omaha
Omaha by Design is the project manager of this initiative, which will focus on five goal areas: the natural environment, urban form and transportation, building construction, resource conservation and community health. The first three goal areas will be examined in 2009. The public can participate in the development of this initiative via an interactive web site at www.environmentomaha.com.
Benson-Ames Alliance
Omaha by Design serves as manager and administrator of the Benson-Ames Alliance, a volunteer organization founded in 2005 to help plan and implement the revitalization of this historic sector of Omaha. The next 12 months will focus on the implementation of the two projects outlined below and the development of a Green Committee to address the alliance’s goal of becoming a sustainable community that actively seeks a balance between its built and natural environments.
Maple Street Corridor Project
Last year saw the launch of the Maple Street Corridor Project, which includes a new streetscape design for downtown Benson, a housing and retail market analysis, and www.BensonBeat.com, a community branding initiative designed to spark civic pride and investment in redevelopment opportunities. The project’s main focus in 2009 is the creation of an east gateway entrance to downtown Benson and increased interaction with the local business community to help move the remainder of the project forward.
The Cole Creek Project
Last year also saw the launch of The Cole Creek Project in the Ames sector of the Benson-Ames Alliance, a collaborative stormwater demonstration project that is the first to follow the City of Omaha’s Urban Design Element recommendation calling for transforming the Papio Creek waterways into a citywide public park and recreation system. On the construction side, the next 12 months will focus on two areas: the development of several bioretention gardens and the reconfiguration of the creek itself. This reconfiguration will restore the creek to its more natural state, create a neighborhood amenity and address pressing flood and erosion control issues. On the community outreach side, the project will offer a series of free public workshops on rain barrels and rain gardens, and launch a mini-grant program designed to help civic groups within the alliance implement small projects related to stormwater management.
Additional Urban Design Element Implementation
Omaha by Design will use 2009 to continue advocating for the recommendations outlined in the city’s Urban Design Element, which was created with the help of a community input process and unanimously approved by the Omaha City Council before being adopted as part of the city’s master plan. Implementation success stories recorded in 2008 include the active participation of the Urban Design Review Board in examining the design of the stadium planned for downtown Omaha, implementation of several recommendations outlined in the Omaha Streetscape Handbook and the planning board’s mapping of specific Areas of Civic Importance. Already completed are ACI along 13th Street from Leavenworth to I-80 and along Dodge Street from Saddle Creek to 69th Street.
The Place Game
The Place Game, a free service of Omaha by Design, is an organized way of brainstorming potential improvements to any neighborhood by listening to the people who use its public spaces. In addition to offering this workshop throughout the city in 2009, Omaha by Design will train a core group of Council Bluffs volunteers to offer the Place Game to interested Council Bluffs neighborhoods. In addition, Omaha by Design will donate a tree to each Omaha neighborhood group that both completes a Place Game in 2009 and applies for grant funding.
We know the months ahead will be challenging. But we approach them energized by the generosity of our donors, the strength of our founding partnership with the Omaha Community Foundation and our new strategic relationship with the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the guidance of our Advisory Committee, the ingenuity of our Place Game facilitators and the commitment of our volunteer base – both lay and professional – to help our city become the best Omaha it can be.
A Greek proverb contends that a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they shall never sit in. Please join us in planting trees and more in 2009.
Connie Spellman, director