Witherbee Park 46 & O Street.
by Fred Freytag
This valuable green space in Midtown
Lincoln could have been lost as part part of the widening
of O Street in 2006. During an open house about the
O Street widening Rick Bagby noticed proposed changes
for that park space and brought it to the WNA's board
attention. WNA informed residents of the proposed
changes and meetings were held to save the park.
Because of WNA's involvement a plan
for the park was drafted and sidewalks were installed
as part of the O Street widening. Since there was
no funding to develop the park no more work was done.
WNA asked the Parks and Rec. to look for funding to
develop the park in the near future.
Three years later the
future has come!
On February 26, 2009 Mayor Chris Beutler
announced that the Lincoln Cares program will help
fund six projects and programs across the community
in 2009. Lincoln Cares is a community donation program,
which allows Lincoln Electric System (LES) customers
to voluntarily add one dollar to their bill payments
each month for projects not included in the City budget.
The Mayor made the announcement at
the Air Park West Recreation Center, where the NEOS
play center was on display. The high-tech, interactive,
portable play tower is one of the items to be funded
by Lincoln Cares this year. The 2009 Lincoln Cares
project list also includes the development of the
Witherbee Park playground; a solar-heated
pool and bathhouse demonstration project at Woods
Pool; Union Plaza; and Boosalis Trail renovation
from 17th to 20th streets. (More
details on the projects click here.)
The news conference was attended by
Witherbee representatives Curtis Wood (President),
Fred Freytag (Past President) and Karen Vogeley (Past
Treasurer).
Pictured from left are: Todd Hall,
Lincoln Electric System; Fred Freytag, Witherbee Neighborhood
Association; Lynn Johnson, Lincoln Parks and Recreation
Director; Christie Dionisopoulos, Lincoln Parks Foundation;
Mayor Chris Beutler, Curtis Wood, Witherbee Neighborhood
Association; and Ann Shrewsbury of Time Warner Cable.
Quote from Lincoln
Cares as provided
by Susan Rodenburg, Program Manager:
Witherbee Park Play Area—$25,000
"Emerging research indicates the important benefits
that play in natural settings has on children's social,
physical and cognitive development. A continuing emphasis
in the development of Lincoln's park system is providing
outdoor play and activity areas within neighborhoods.
Lincoln Cares funds will be used to develop a new
outdoor play area in Witherbee Park at 46th and "O."
Streets to serve children and families living in mid-town
neighborhoods."
Lincoln Cares is a community donation
program which allows Lincoln Electric System (LES)
customers to voluntarily add one dollar to their bill
payments each month for projects not included in the
City budget. Each dollar is matched with 50-cents
from Lincoln Parks Foundation (up to $15,000) and
Time Warner Cable (up to $30,000). For more information
on Lincoln Cares, contact the Lincoln Parks and Recreation
Department at 441-8264 or visit the City’s Web
site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: cares).
Please give to Lincoln
Cares as you can see it comes back to our neighborhood
parks.
Read more about it here. Here is a link
to LES [more
here]
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