OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A planning committee is seeking public input about how to transform riverfront along the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
About 200 people attended a Riverfront Revitalization Planning Committee meeting Monday to share what they’d like to see on a large strip of the riverfront, the Omaha World-Herald reported .
Focus areas include Gene Leahy Mall, Lewis & Clark Landing, Heartland of America Park and Tom Hanafam River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs.
The committee is co-chaired by Ken Stinson, chairman emeritus of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc., and Mogens Bay, chief executive officer of Valmont. Stinson said the group aims to come up with a plan that results in construction.
“This is not a practice exercise to end up on a shelf,” he said.
The committee has selected the Office of James Burnett as its consultant to create a proposal for the area. Stinson said the Downtown Riverfront Trust will fund the group’s more than $1 million study on the area.
Attendees at the meeting placed stickers next to preferred concepts. Food and beverage kiosks as well as waterfront dining were among the most popular amenities. Other ideas included facilities and activities that cater to children and dogs.
Resident Kristin Albers, who often bikes in Iowa, said she’d like to see better trails with more curves and shade.
Bay said he’s happy the process is moving forward with the help of the consultant and the philanthropic community as well as cooperation from city leaders and the public.
“If you fast-forward 10 years, I hope (the consultant) will be able to, in some other town, show pictures of what happened in Omaha,” he said.
The next public meeting is Oct. 26, and final design concepts will be shared in January.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, https://www.omaha.com
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