“riverfront” Archives
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NorthFork Riverwalk Visioning Session for Citizens
Press Release Apr 5 2009NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project will host along with HDR Engineering Inc. a community visioning session, Thursday, April 16, 2009, 5:30-8:30 PM, Knight of Columbus Hall, 105 West Elm St. Norfolk, NE 68701. The public is invited to attend. Food will be provided during the event. Contact the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce to reserve your seat, 405 Madison Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701, 402-371-4862, email: information@norfolk.ne.us.
The session will start with a overview of the master plan effort, review of the Interview Session responses collected February 9th & 10th, an overview of 6 community case studies that include features that Norfolk might consider, conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis by participants, a Geographic “Mapping” exercise, followed by a Vision Statement Exercise. The Geograhic Mapping Exercise allows participants the opportunity to describe their vision for the project area.
Participants will be grouped around tables to help interact during these exercises. The primary goal is to establish a vision for the North Fork river corridor project that runs over 3 miles through the community along with identifying more tangible goals.
The NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project board of directors invite members from service clubs, employees and owners of local businesses and industries, property owners along and near the river corridor, students, teachers, retired citizens, and families to attend this open community event that will help shape the future of the community.
For further questions please contact the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, 405 Madison Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701, 402-371-4862. Additional background material can be found at website, http://www.NorthForkNE.com and http://picasaweb.google.com/NorthForkRiverwalk.
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Please contact Mark Hall, Steering Committee Chair, throught the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce (402) 371-4862, northforkriverwalk@gmail.com for media questions.
http://picasaweb.google.com/NorthForkRiverwalk/VisioningSessionFlyer#
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Interview Session Summary Report
Press Release Mar 26 2009The following Interview Session Summary Report was compiled by HDR Engineering Inc. staff members, released March 26, 2009.
On February 23rd and 24th, the North Fork Development Project hosted a series of small group interviews to identify opportunities for development along the north branch of the Elkhorn River through the City of Norfolk. Interview participants represented a cross section of the Norfolk community, including business and property owners, artists, teenagers, young professionals, tourism representatives, educators and interested community members. Each group responded to the same questions about the river and the future of Norfolk. Responses varied from group to group, but over the two days, several common themes emerged.
All respondents considered the river an underused asset. Primary users of the river were difficult to identify. Most commonly cited uses included children fishing and the Relay for Life duck race. It was generally believed that most people in Norfolk were unfamiliar with the stretch of river that runs through town, or if they were familiar with the river, they were unsure if the river could/should be used. Many participants felt that the river could become the signature or post card image for Norfolk. Ultimately, the development project should be more than just a landmark. It should also improve the overall quality of life in Norfolk to benefit everyone in the city, help attract and retain jobs, and make Norfolk a regional destination for visitors.
In order to be successful, interviewees suggested that the North Fork Development Project should build upon Norfolk’s genuine, hometown qualities and should strive to become a relaxed, friendly environment for families. Uses for the riverfront should focus on:
- Active and passive recreation – Walking/biking paths, picnic areas, play fields, natural open space, etc.
- Arts – Public art display opportunities, sculpture gardens, and arts-based activities
- Amphitheater – A venue for live performances such as the Comedy Festival acts or concerts
- Education – Science, environmental, and horticultural learning opportunities for students of all ages, school age to life-long learners
- Unique dining and shopping– Boutique or specialty dining and retail not found in other places in Norfolk, particularly independently owned businesses
- Housing – Nontraditional housing styles for Norfolk including rental properties for long-term professional placements and condominium or townhouses for purchase by young professionals, young families and empty nesters
- Civic building – City and county administrative offices
- Event and programming opportunities - Coordination and management of events was seen as particularly important as several events that had been held in the past had been scaled back or discontinued.
Engaging all ages in the community, from youth to senior, is critical for the North Fork Development Project. Also important for the success of the project are small, but highly visible projects that can be implemented quickly and inexpensively in order to build momentum and interest for larger, long-term investments. In the past, participants noted that the City has not been perceived as entrepreneurial or open to new ideas. All hoped the riverwalk development project would be a partnership building process for the City, local businesses, schools and community organizations.
http://picasaweb.google.com/NorthForkRiverwalk/InterviewSessionSummaryReport#
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NorthFork River Corridor Possible Features
Press Release Feb 18 2009In preparation for the upcoming Interview Sessions on Feb. 23rd and 24th we've listed some possible features that we may considered for the NorthFork Riverfront Master Plan. Many of these features are a collection of ideas that have been mentioned over the past two years. There is no particular order or priority implied in the listing.
Life-long Learning
Regional destination for school field trips
Botanical garden
Tree and shrub nursery
Wetlands/Biological pools -- use as offsets for developments in other areas of the City, divert water to north end of the existing ox bows (North of Norfolk Country Club) to implement filtration process before reentering main North Fork channel
Information/technology/historical kiosks (e.g., heritage walk)
Smart grid technologies (electrical usage) with descriptions of implemented technologies
Landscaping technologies (water restrictions, water reuse, plants, rocks, soil erosion, bank stabilization, etc.)
Promote/incentivize recycling/reuse/reduce culture
Wellness activities/features for mind and body
Integrated services with Norfolk Public Schools, YMCA, Library, Arts Center, and Historical Museum
Implement adopt a river/corridor section (similar to the State's Adopt a Highway Program)Buildings
Net Zero energy designs for 5,000 plus square feet facilities using smart grid an renewable energy technologies
Promote/incentivize renewable energy technologies, solar, wind, geothermal
Architecture designed to a theme for a particular section(s) of the corridor
High rise mix use living complex (near senior center?)
Condominium complex, community within a community
Low maintenance single family housing, zero stepup design
Temporary housing/RV park with cabins
Extended Living Accommodations -- School and business intern housing facilityElectrical plug-in receptacles for electric vehicles
Reactive the hydroelectric power station with new turbine technology
Incorporate a wireless mesh corridor (support multiple media technologies)
Integrated mix use office building with City, Norfolk School District, County, State and economic and community development activities
Creative and entrepreneurial center—business incubator – Collocated with multi-generational living community
Commercial/Retail
Follow a design theme with possible historic and future trends significance
Parking integrated with surface water retention and green space priorities
Restaurant(s) suited/amplified for riverfront location
Specialized retail for year-around operations
Water sports equipment and services
Office complex with multiple services provided (e.g., health, finance, retail)
Entertainment
Walking mall with variety of restaurants, eating/drinking and specialty shops
Outdoor Amphitheater, miniature Hollywood Bowl, concerts on the green, sledding hill in winter
Open area mall with canopy covers and tree shade
Recreation
Pedestrian path with historical/creative design features
Bike and electric vehicle path
Biological pools/swimming
Splash park converted to ice skating in winter
Kayak/canoe/inner tube, stock tank launch/portage areas, upper and lower
Artificial Whitewater features
Amphitheater , miniature Hollywood Bowl, concerts on the green, sledding hill in winter
Skate park
Cowboy Trail, trailhead
Enclosed multi-purpose sports and activity center (large enough to play a soccer game)
Partially enclosed aquatic center for year around use -
Riverfront Features in Other Communities
Press Release Feb 17 2009The following list of websites represent numerous examples of features incorporated into community river corridors. When you find other examples please add those websites through the comments section of the blog.
- http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/ParksAndFacilities/Parks/page18151.aspx
- http://renoriver.org/
- http://www.riverstreetsavannah.com/
- http://www.downtowndevelopmentcorp.org/p_publicrealm.aspx
- http://www.jupiter.fl.us/CommunityDevelopment/JazzAndArt.cfm
- http://www.cityscopemag.com/August_08/Riverwalk.aspx
- http://www.columbushomeshow.com/Columbus-ga-riverwalk.php
- http://www.principal.com/riverwalk/
- http://www.greenvillesc.gov/city_services/trails.asp
- http://www.worldisround.com/articles/36344/index.html
- http://www.indianatrails.org/East_Bank_Trail.htm
- http://www.riverfront.org/parks/ongoing/
- http://www.fallspark.com/park_map.pdf
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NorthFork Project Begins Community Interviews
Press Release Feb 15 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2009
NorthFork Project Begins Community Interviews
The NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project schedules interview sessions for Steering Committee and Key Community Stakeholders, on February 23 and 24. HDR Engineering Inc. is working on the first two of four phases of the Master Plan effort. HDR staff will be conducting twelve interview sessions in groups of three for approximately 1 hour each. On Monday, February the 23th at 6 PM the board of directors is hosting a special Founders' Group session for those numerous committee members that started this journey over 2 years ago. An additional Key Stakeholders breakfast session is scheduled for 7 AM, February 24th. These interview sessions are being held at the Life Long Learning Center on the Northeast Nebraska Community College campus.
If you have comments or would like to be scheduled for an interview session (NLT 02/19/09) please contact the Steering Committee through email at info@NorthForkNE.com, or call Lonn Atwood or Mark Hall through the Norfolk Area Chamber office (402) 371-4862. The public can also post comments on the project's website at:
http://www.northforkne.com/blog/press/northfork-interview-session-comments/
The public will have the opportunity again in April to provide comments as part of the Visioning Sessions.
HDR staff has prepared a series of five opened ended interview questions. The answers to these questions, other comments and
suggestions will be incorporated into the Visioning Sessions scheduled in two months along with HDR's case study of other communities and their riverfront development projects. The list of questions used for the interview session include:- Who currently uses the river? How do they use it?
- What positive qualities of Norfolk should the NorthFork Development Project capitalize upon?
- How do you envision residents and visitors using the NorthFork Development?
- Are there any specific uses that would not be appropriate for the NorthFork Development?
- What specific features are necessary for a successful NorthFork Development Project?
The NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project Master Plan effort was kicked-off on January 27th with a lunch, Steering Committee meeting, 2-hour tour of the North Fork river corridor, logo design award, National Park Service presentation and a public forum with panel discussion with HDR and S.B. Friedman staff members. The Master Plan process includes four contractual tasks with HDR currently under contract to complete the first two tasks projected for completion in May 2009. The NorthFork Master Plan will integrate community input with case studies from development projects from other communities, a economic feasibility analysis, and a corridor design that is expected to be incorporated into the City's Comprehensive Plan. For further information on the Master Plan contractual tasks visit the following website address:
http://www.visioning2026.com/NorthFork/HDR/2008-05-23DraftScope(withoutTrackedChanges).pdf
Steering Committee members are looking for fund raising fun activities to help share the passion for the NorthFork Riverfront rebirth.
Contact Lonn, Mark or send an email with your ideas and support.The NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project began from a "seed" replanted in the minds of fellow citizens from the Visioning 2026 Project. The original concept was investigated back in 1975 but fell out of view due to public only funding budget issues. This transformed project is now considering public/private funding, first starting with the Master Plan.
