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Nebraska’s downtown riverfront has been transformed into a thriving green space by MECA, blending nature with the urban environment.Amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Omaha, the sounds of cars driving on the 10th Street Bridge are accompanied by the whispers of wings, the buzzing of bugs, and the waddles of wildlife. “It really provides a haven for pollinators and lots of wildlife. We have ducklings, little bunnies, lots of bees, monarchs, and things like that is a big focus,” said Katie Bassett, MECA’s vice president of parks. From the soil to the treetops, MECA has installed bird and bee boxes and insect motels to support the ecosystem. “As you know, we get both extremes here, and having plants and trees that started within these climates and have kind of grown up here certainly helps,” Bassett said. Sarah Browning of Plant Nebraska explained the importance of selecting the right plants for landscaping success. “Really, it’s going to make or break the success of the landscape. If you’re choosing plants that are not well-adapted to the part of the country where you live, they’re going to struggle,” Browning said. She also noted MECA’s efforts to reintroduce elm trees to the area. “It’s taken quite a while, but over the course of time, we were able to develop new species of elms that have resistance to this disease. And we’re seeing them being planted back into Nebraska landscapes again,” Browning said. Browning added that the park is a unique addition to Omaha’s urban downtown. “I mean, they really have created a very unique green space within this urban downtown area,” she said.
Nebraska’s downtown riverfront has been transformed into a thriving green space by MECA, blending nature with the urban environment.
Amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Omaha, the sounds of cars driving on the 10th Street Bridge are accompanied by the whispers of wings, the buzzing of bugs, and the waddles of wildlife.
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“It really provides a haven for pollinators and lots of wildlife. We have ducklings, little bunnies, lots of bees, monarchs, and things like that is a big focus,” said Katie Bassett, MECA’s vice president of parks.
From the soil to the treetops, MECA has installed bird and bee boxes and insect motels to support the ecosystem.
“As you know, we get both extremes here, and having plants and trees that started within these climates and have kind of grown up here certainly helps,” Bassett said.
Sarah Browning of Plant Nebraska explained the importance of selecting the right plants for landscaping success.
“Really, it’s going to make or break the success of the landscape. If you’re choosing plants that are not well-adapted to the part of the country where you live, they’re going to struggle,” Browning said.
She also noted MECA’s efforts to reintroduce elm trees to the area.
“It’s taken quite a while, but over the course of time, we were able to develop new species of elms that have resistance to this disease. And we’re seeing them being planted back into Nebraska landscapes again,” Browning said.
Browning added that the park is a unique addition to Omaha’s urban downtown.
“I mean, they really have created a very unique green space within this urban downtown area,” she said.
