Organizational Meeting July 13
June 25th, 2009A new neighborhood association is forming in the Benson-Ames Alliance.
The Orchard Park/Hartman Neighborhood Association will hold an organizational meeting Monday, July 13, at Hartman Elementary School, 5530 N. 66th St., beginning at 6:30pm. The tentative boundaries of the new association are 60th to 66th and Hartman to Camden. All those who live, work and play in the area are invited to attend.
For more information, contact Ron Abdouch, executive director of the Neighborhood Center, at 402.561.7582.
The Plants! The Plants!
May 18th, 2009The planting of the bioretention gardens is under way. The gardens have been designed to capture rainfall runoff, allowing it to soak into the ground - where it can be stored for plant use - or slowly filter into Cole Creek. Here’s a list of what will be going into the ground May 18-19:
- Big Bluestem
- Switch Grass
- Indian Grass
- Black-eyed Susans
- Butterfly Milkweed
- Little Bluestem
- Penstemon Albiduis
- Prairie Blazing Star
- Prairie Cone Flower
- Pale Purple Cone Flower
- Blue Gamma Grass
- Bergamont
- Blue Lobellia
- New England Aster
- Blue Flag Iris
- Fox Sedge
- Buffalo Grass Sod
These native plants have deep roots that create large pores, allowing the water that collects in the bioretention gardens to move deep into the soil. They will add color to the project area during the spring, summer and fall months, and they’ll also attract a wide variety of birds and other animals.
Stop by and watch the planting process! For more information about The Cole Creek Project, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.
Neighborhood Meeting June 2
May 13th, 2009Are you interested in keeping Cole Creek and Orchard Park clean? Are you willing to volunteer your time to help make it happen? Come to a meeting Tuesday, June 2, at Roncalli Catholic High School from 6:30 to 8:00pm and find out what you can do! It’s free and open to anyone interested in attending.
The Benson-Ames Alliance (B-AA) is seeking individuals, families and organizations interested in learning more about forming a new neighborhood association in the area surrounding Cole Creek near Roncalli and Orchard Park. Representatives from the Neighborhood Center, Keep Omaha Beautiful and the B-AA will discuss the type of support available to residents who demonstrate a commitment to neighborhood improvement.
Bring your neighbor to Roncalli June 2. For more information, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.
Garden Work Begins
April 29th, 2009
Excavating the bioretention garden.
Hey, creek fans - work on one of the project’s two bioretention gardens has begun in the north portion of Orchard Park. This garden will capture stormwater runoff from the street before it enters the storm sewer system. It’s being built between the sidewalk and the curb, and will be connected to a larger cell east of the sidewalk. The larger cell - which is being excavated first - will allow excess water from the street to be treated while it infiltrates into the ground.
Infiltration cell.
A soil mixture that’s half compost (our city’s own Oma-Grow!) and half sand will be added to the cells to facilitate the infiltration process. Subsurface drains will allow some of the infiltrating water to slowly discharge into Cole Creek. The two cells will be connected by pipes below the sidewalk. Stop by and watch the action! Questions? Contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.