“riverwalk” Archives
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North Fork River Greenway Highlighted
Press Release Jul 22 2010City of Norfolk Park and Trail Master Plan presentation slide material highlights the value of the greenway along and near the North Fork river.
The Trail System was voted at 40% as the most valued part of the park and trail.
63% percent of the voters in the survey indicated extending the trail system into additonal neighborhoods as important.
Johnson Park was ranked 4th behind Skyview Park, TaHaZouka, and Cowboy Trail their favorite park.
43% of survey voters agree or strongly agree that the North Fork Riverwalk Development is important to the development of the community.
66% agree or strongly agree that trails increase the property values.
Trails Recommendation #1 is to create a better north/south pathway system between NECC in the north and TaHaZouka in the south.
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NorthFork Riverfront Development Project Board Meeting Notes
Press Release Jun 18 2010FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NorthFork Riverfront Development Project, June, 16th, 2010
The monthly June 16th, Wednesday, noon meeting covered the personnel support and safety for the upcoming Comedy Flotilla, June 19th 11AM and continued support even with recent flooding and loss conditions. *** Subsequent to the meeting the event has been cancelled for this year as due to the North Fork water levels remainingl high, flood water quality, and local events due to the 100 year flood.
The board agreed that we should be identified as the NorthFork Riverfront Development Project.
Co-chairman Darrel Novacek explained the grant application to allow for issuing state tax credit certificates to future financial donors for the project’s future expenses. Also several letters of support are expected from different organizations that will be partners in future efforts along the riverfront.
Additional grant applications efforts were discussed and the consideration of resubmitting an USDA economic feasibility study covering a more restrictive area of the overall project.
The results of the City’s Park and Trails Master Plan was discussed and how we can support those City Wards and neighborhoods. In addition the board wants to investigate how an economic development corridor can be established using a Planned Unit Development designation allowed through the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
The board postponed discussion on hiring a engineering firm in support of the Norfolk Sanitary District desire to replace the river pilings and any changes to Johnson Park’s direct access the North Fork by the public for such activities as a walking/biking path and rafting/canoeing/kayaking activities.
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Comedy Festival Flotilla on the North Fork
Press Release May 23 2010
Viaero Great American Comedy Festival comedians will join community participants in floating and paddling down the North Fork River, Saturday, June 19, 11 AM.Bring your canoe, inner tube, stock tank, home made floating device and a life jacket and join in "bringing fun back to the river." Some canoes and inner tubes will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Access to the river will be from just North of the Benjamin Ave bridge and from behind National Champion Liquor, 1100 Riverside Blvd. Exit off the water will be just beyond the railroad river bridge and prior to First Street mill dam adjacent to Miller Property (old trailer court). Temporary docks will be installed, volunteers to help portage the floating devices, and transportation between ending and starting points.
Viewing will be from the trail bridge Southwest of the YMCA and the Winter Park and 4th Street Park. We are looking for volunteers to help as well as participate in paddling on the river.
For additional information contact Mark Hall by email: northforkriverwalk@gmail.com.
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Earth Day Cleanup on the Riverfront
Press Release Apr 7 2010Calling all community volunteers!
Help clean-up the North Fork riverfront in Norfolk, NE on April 24th, 9 AM - noon.
For more information visit the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce Events website for further details and registration form.
Read more about the project in the Special to Daily News article on surveying the area and removing volunteer trees and pruning those that should be kept.
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Area Resident Explores Latest San Antonio Riverwalk Developments
Press Release Apr 7 2010Norfolk resident, Cheryl Johnson, recently visited the latest extension of the San Antonio's riverwalk and their new dual path. This is probably closer to what could be invisioned for a riverfront development along the North Fork of the Elkhorn River in the middle of the downtown district and connected neighborhoods. Check out some of these latest riverfront images and visualize these paths and features along the North Fork.
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City’s Park and Recreation Master Plan On-line Survey
Press Release Dec 9 2009The consulting firm that is developing the City’s Park and Recreation Master Plan created an on-line survey for area residents to complete.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. There is a text link near the bottom of the website page that will direct you to the survey.
http://www.communityredesigned.com/norfolkparks/index.html
There is a specific survey question that asks whether you support the NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project (Strongly Agree, Agree, No Opinion, Disagree, Strongly Disagree). We would appreciate your Strongly Agree vote. :-))
Here are a couple interesting references you might think about during this holiday season.
1. Imagine transforming Johnson Park using public art and nature http://tinyurl.com/PublicArtinPark http://tinyurl.com/IslandGarden
2. Improve the accessibility, quality, and quantity of play and play spaces for children http://tinyurl.com/PlayMatters
3. Expansion of trails in existing park generating lots of dialogue on the pros and cons http://tinyurl.com/ParkTrails
4. Trend--Cities closing recreation facilities that traditional lose money. http://tinyurl.com/RecreationDrainingBudgets
5. How can we encourage innovation on a local level? What is your idea? An Innovation Agenda - http://bit.ly/4IEKGf
6. Annual Board Meeting Slide Presentation http://www.visioning2026.com/NorthFork/2009AnnualBoardMtg.pdf
7. Weak signal on economic development and "new workforce" http://bit.ly/1ETRlo
8. Recreation is more than a field of dreams, facilities+hosting tournaments= economic development http://tinyurl.com/FieldsofDreams
9. Joining Forces, Community effort matches uses to needs http://tinyurl.com/JoiningForces
10. Helping students to ask good questions http://tinyurl.com/PowerofWhy -
Financial Campaign Kick-off Meeting
Press Release Apr 24 2009
From FundCampaignKickOff On April 23, 2009 the NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project kicked-off the financial campaign to raise $300,000 to pay for the Master Plan effort being performed by HDR Engineering, Inc., Omaha, NE. Over $80,000 have already been raised which represents just under 30 per cent of the funds needed
Mr. Jim Miller, Chairman of the Board of Directors, charged the campaign solicitors with the "make it work" address.
Darrel Novacek is the Fund Campaign Chair in charge of raising the monies.
The meeting was held at Webb & Hazel McNally's "club house" home, 103 South 5th St, downtown above Western Office Supply.
Photo album is posted at the Picasa NorthFork Riverwalk website.
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Riverfront Case Studies on Other Communities
Press Release Apr 11 2009The NorthFork Riverwalk Visioning Sessions will incoporate case studies of 6 communities with features that citizens should consider for goal setting and future implementation. HDR Engineering Inc. is preparing these case studies as part of Task 2 of the Master Plan contracted effort.
Five of the six riverfront projects being introduced include the following with some referenced website links for additional background:
- Antonio, TX; http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_River_Walk - Naperville, IL http://www.napervilleriverwalk.com/
- http://www.napervilleriverwalk.com/future.htm
- Paducah, KY; http://www.ci.paducah.ky.us/paducah/riverfront-master-plan
- Frederick, MD;
- Wilmington, DE http://www.riverfrontwilm.com/
The Wilmington Riverfront has generated nearly $67 million in fiscal revenues for the city, county and state since 1996.
http://www.riverfrontwilm.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=11&cntnt01returnid=41
http://www.riverfrontwilm.com/uploads/pdfs/riverfrontmap.pdf
- Antonio, TX; http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
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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#
