2009 Grants Awarded

OMAHA - Two neighborhood associations and one middle school in the Benson-Ames Alliance are the recipients of 2009 mini-grants from The Cole Creek Project.

Cole Creek, part of Omaha’s local floodplain system, begins south of Sorensen Parkway and flows into the Little Papillion Creek near the intersection of 78th and Cass. The project runs from Sorensen Parkway to Hartman Avenue. It seeks to stabilize the creek, improve its water quality and enhance the recreational use of Orchard Park.

The 2009 mini-grant program, part of the project’s community outreach component, has awarded $1,000.00  to three projects that address stormwater management or water conservation in the Benson-Ames Alliance. The recipients and their projects are listed below.

Clairmont Heights Neighborhood Association - Rain Barrel Project
Twenty-five neighborhood residents interested in having rain barrels on their property will be recruited. The neighborhood association will host a rain barrel workshop day during which the designated participants will build their own rain barrels. The barrels will also be painted and decorated with the assistance of local artist Kim Reid Kuhn, vice president of the association. Photos of the completed barrels will be posted on the association’s web site, and follow-up visits will be conducted with each participant to ensure the barrels are working properly.

Nathan Hale Middle School - Hale Horticulture
In conjunction with the school’s transition into Expanded Learning Time education, a gardening class will be offered. Class participants will landscape and plant the school’s garden beds with drought resistant plants. Activities will include planning and preparing the planting areas, researching and selecting specific drought resistant plants, planting the beds and maintaining them upon completion. Water conservation activities will be part of the class curriculum.

Metcalfe-Harrison Neighborhood Association - Plant the Peanut
“The Peanut” is a figure 8-shaped traffic calming structure located on the edge of Metcalfe Park. The project is replacing its grassy area with drought tolerant, sustainable landscaping. The design plan was developed by Scott Farrington from nearby Indian Creek Nursery. Once completed, the site will serve as a demonstration garden for neighborhood association residents and others who pass by the well-traveled area. The importance of water management as it relates to the garden will be discussed at neighborhood meetings and promoted in the association’s newsletter and on its web site.

For more information about the mini-grant program, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.

The Cole Creek Project, a $1.6 million investment in the Benson-Ames Alliance, is a partnership of the City of Omaha Departments of Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Public Property; Roncalli Catholic High School; Douglas County; Omaha by Design; the Benson-Ames Alliance; Big Muddy Workshop; Hayes Environmental L.L.C.; Lamp, Rynearson & Associates; and Olsson Associates. It is funded by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District.