Donation Finances Improvements at Memorial Park

New plants now adorn the south entrance to the rose garden at Memorial Park in Omaha.

Omaha Parks and Recreation Department "removed some huge, overgrown Juniper shrubs last year that were declining," said Patrice Slaven, a parks planner. "There was a desire to create a formal entry planting to the rose garden."

"Dr. John Sage, an avid supporter and volunteer at the rose garden over the years, donated over $40,000 to do the plantings and other landscape improvements" on the south side of the main Monument, Slaven said.

The species planted were the Taylor Juniper, Little Devil Ninebark, Everlow Yew, Pink Princess Crabapple and White Pine, Slaven said.

"The project provides an attractive entrance to the garden, which is the location of many weddings," Slaven said. "The regularly spaced junipers, when fully grown, will provide a dramatic entrance to reinforce the formality of the rose garden layout."

The park improvement project occurred in the last week of May, Slaven said.

A portion of the new plants at Memorial Park. Photo taken July 31, 2015.

Limb Snipping Along Happy Hollow

Following a unexpected and surprising evening shower, it was time to deal with an obvious situation on the east side of Memorial Park, in Omaha. With two suitable snipper tools in hand, there were limbs of some trees to trim along the Happy Hollow Trail.

The branches were encroaching upon the trailway, and with the rain, the moisture meant a declination which made the most problematic situations especially obvious as they hung over the way. The area of interest was from Underwood Avenue to Dodge Street.

Trees need care and attention, and it was their time, this evening. There was a particular purpose, with a specific intent.

Errant branches were removed from saplings. Unwanted invasive, i.e., trash trees were cut away within the woods adjacent to the trail.

Most importantly, overhanging limbs were trimmed to provide a clear route along the trail for walkers and bicyclists. This was a community service effort since Omaha Parks and Recreation staff have not given this situation any attention.

This was the second time this season for this sort of effort. Back in May, a slew of branches of a mulberry tree at the south end along the trail were specifically removed with an obvious intent. When wet, they hung only about five feet above the route. This was an problem that no one else would deal with. During that morning's effort, one regular walker along this way did express his thanks.

On Monday evening, July 15th, there was also gratitude expressed. One woman quipped that she had trees in her front yard needing trimming. My reply: "I don't ride my bicycle past there." She then said thanks for clearing the way for people using the trail, in so many words or less.

This effort involved arriving, trimming, throwing the debris into the adjacent woods, and leaving. This way, it may seem that nothing was done, though the scene may seem different to those who are attentive.

After this Monday evening outing, my shirt was dappled with multiple drops of water. My jeans have new stains from the mulberries which fell while cutting the limbs. However, the evening was nice and fresh, though there was no rainbow seen, which was some sort of expectation for the precipitation event with the raindrops and sunlight mixture.

It took three passes to and fro from the initial targets for removal, then onward to trim more limbs, and then to acquire another perspective and then to snip more unwanted tree branches. The trimming was done in a manner to work with the tree and not destroy its growth, but promote an alternative direction away from the right-of-way. Except for the trash trees where the intent is obliteration, as they are sprouting from what was left when they were initially snipped earlier this growing season.

During the outing the Mallards and Wood Ducks, and their young, were noticed along the creek. These days, the most effusive bird at this place is the Red-eyed Vireo, so specially expressive in the morning.

Now, when bicycling along, at least there won't be any branches whacking my head while riding along the way.

On this day, two hours were spent trimming trees along Happy Hollow Creek and picking up trash in the Carthage neighborhood. It was a good day for community service. Again. The results will be enjoyed tomorrow.

Happy Hollow Creek Featured in Local TV News

Happy Hollow Creek was featured on the local news report last night on KPTM.

Reporting was done by Leah Uko, and the story titled "Trash Pile Up Replaces Water in Creek" started with:

A trash pile up near a creek has people throwing out suggestions on how to fix it. Happy Hollow Creek at Memorial Park is flooded with dirty water because of built up litter.

This story has been featured only on this station, and the reporter was given an exclusive on site interview. Especially important was her realization that the waterway was actually called Happy Hollow Creek. It added a personal touch to the scene.

The only problem with the story was getting comments with a representative of Nebraska Wildlife Rehabilitation that seemed to convey the trash was no problem, because the ducks will just leave.

Obviously having the Wood Ducks and Mallards present is a better condition, and that should have been reflected in her dubious statement.

Dundee Changes to Enhance Bird Watching Setting

Pending changes in central Dundee will include features conducive to loitering and listening to Common Nighthawks in the summer-time skies, or to watch the evening antics of gathering Chimney Swifts.

At the corner of 50th Street and Underwood Avenue, will be an new plaza, with trees, benches and more distinctly, no southern driveway into the adjacent parking lot. It looks to be a great place to linger.

A completely new green feature nearby at the corner is a rain-garden of approximately 600 square feet, planted to native species such as false indigo, coneflower, hosta, daylily, rose and salvia. The flora might provide a seasonal haunt for a migratory sparrow or two, or maybe some juncos in the winter.

Trees to be prominently planted, at the plaza and along the streets, include maple, hornbeam, ginko, hackberry, honeylocust, crabapple, oak and frontier elm.

A a barrier of brick-and-mortar pedestals and wrought-iron fencing will be built on the north side of the plaza, and intermittently continue a half-block distance northward along 50th Street, masking the parking lot.

Several small vegetated spaces shown in project plans would be flower-beds or otherwise a place for greenery.

The project intent is to improve the central Dundee business district.

Obviously missing in the mix, is suitable improvement for the "KFAB" building parking lot. It is a big slab of hard surface. The primary change indicated here is a brick retaining wall along the sidewalk, and, a flower-bed along its way.

Current setting for the site of a future plaza. February 2nd, 2013.

The ugly setting of the KFAB building parking lot. February 2nd, 2013.

There certainly could be more trees, especially coniferous species, to mask the large lot, the boring facade of the west side of the building and the prominent, metallic, rooftop communication structures. Even a single tree at the southwest corner, and a couple near the south entryway would make things less obtrusive.

The building and lot are leased by Clear Channel media and entertainment, according to company staff, as expressed during a Friday afternoon visit of inquiry.

Some of these same considerations apply to the former "C-Mart" parcel just to the west. The business is gone, so perhaps the building could be razed, a mini-park created on the Underwood Avenue side, with parking towards the north?

The "streetscape improvement" area extends primarily along Underwood Avenue from about a half-block east of 49th Street, and to 51st Street. Some improvements will also occur a short distance north and south along 50th Street.

Final details for the plans were presented by planners, city officials and others the evening of January 31, 2013. More than 60 people attended this meeting at the Omaha Neighborhood Center.

Streetscape meeting, January 31st.

The finalized plan is a "basic design," focused upon improvements to the public right-of-way, according to officials at the meeting, and addresses the "top six" features as developed through public meetings and community interest. Numerous bike racks will appropriately placed, they also indicated.

A "business improvement district" has been established among the Dundee merchants to provide funds for upkeep and maintenance.

Project construction cost is $1.9 million, with 70% being paid by private donations, along with funds from the City of Omaha, grants and the Metropolitan Utilities District, in conjunction with their construction of a new water main. More than $300,000 will be paid to Snyder and Associates for planning and other contracted services, which came from City of Omaha bond dollars, according to the project manager.

Work will be done this year. Details of features and construction are expected to be made available at the Moving Omaha website, where images of the proposed work are available.

Pending streetscape for the KFAB building parking lot. Both images have been cropped to feature details of special interest.

Overhead view of the Underwood Avenue and 50th Street intersection. The plaza and raingarden are at the northwest corner.