July 11, 2012
In this issue…2012 Metro Commuter Challenge under way, Benson Days set for July 27-29, Dundee Business District reaches fund-raising goal for planned renovation.
Metro Commuter Challenge
The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and Metro are challenging you to take the bus or carpool now through Aug. 3. The 2012 Metro Commuter Challenge is a month-long alternative transportation competition between employees in the metro area. It’s designed to:
- Inform people of the negative impacts driving a single-passenger car has on the environment;
- Educate people about their alternative transportation options;
- Award prizes to encourage new people to try alternative transportation and reward those who already do.
All those who participate are eligible for weekly raffle prizes. For more information or to enter, visit www.mapacog.org/commuterchallenge.
Benson Days July 27-29
The granddaughter of the man who founded Benson will return to Omaha later this month to serve as the grand marshall of the community’s 125th anniversary parade. Marjorie Benson Loring will preside over the event, which is set for Saturday, July 28, beginning at 10:00am.
In 1887, Erastus Benson, a business partner of Thomas Edison, founded the town of Benson, Nebraska. The community grew to nearly 5,000 residents before being annexed by the City of Omaha in 1917.
The parade is part of three days of 125th anniversary activities set for July 27-29. Benson Days kicks off Friday, July 27, with a free concert and fireworks in Benson Park. The Saturday parade will be preceded by a pancake breakfast, followed by the annual street festival and “After Dark” multi-venue music event. Sunday activities will include an interfaith church service and picnic in Gallagher Park, followed by a pub crawl at various Benson venues. The Benson-Ames Alliance is one of the sponsors of Benson Days. For more information, visit www.bensonnebraska.com/125th/benson-days.
Fund-raising Goal Reached
The $2.5 million needed to complete the planned renovation of the Dundee Business District has been raised. The announcement was made by Omaha City Councilman Pete Festersen and Molly Romero, incoming president of the Dundee-Memorial Park Association, last month.
Click here to view a rendering of the planned renovation.
Festersen encouraged the re-allocation of $550,000 in city transportation bonds in 2009 toward the project and has been working with merchants, neighbors, philanthropic interests, and city and state officials to develop the public-private partnership. Other major financial contributions to date include $29,000 from more than 30 Dundee merchants, $500,000 from the Peter Kiewit Foundation, $500,000 from the Robert B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation, $120,000 from Jim Mammel, $700,000 from an anonymous donor and a $75,000 state stormwater grant.
Festersen said the project is moving forward and will be constructed in the spring of 2013. “We are excited that so many great partners have recognized the significance of this community development model that encourages small business development and keeps neighborhoods safe and strong,” he said. He also noted that fund raising will likely continue to complete other desirable options and features. For more information about the neighborhood, visit http://www.dundee-memorialpark.org/.