OMAHA, Neb. — North Omaha community members and volunteers are invited to help plant 175 trees along the North Omaha Trail at an Oct. 22 event that will feature a community walk, brunch, tours of North Omaha and free access to e-bikes and scooters.

Construction was recently completed on the first phase of the North Omaha Trail, a two-mile stretch that runs from Metro transit’s North Omaha Transit Center near 30th Street and Ames Avenue to the 24th & Lake Historic District. The trail — which runs along U.S. 75 and is within walking distance to several parks, schools and commercial areas — provides a crucial connection between several North Omaha neighborhoods while also serving as a critical economic, recreational, and public health link.

The completion of this phase of the North Omaha Trail represents a major milestone in the advancement of the Omaha metropolitan area’s transportation system. Next phases of the project call for the trail to extend north to Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha Campus and south to downtown Omaha, where it will connect to the future “Baby Bob” pedestrian bridge, the downtown riverfront area and the First Ave. trail in Council Bluffs.

“The North Omaha Trail parallels one of the most destructive projects in Omaha’s history, the U.S. 75 freeway, and lays a foundation to begin building an ecology of health, healing and transformative change in North Omaha — and throughout the city as a whole,” said Manuel Cook, urban development manager at Fabric Lab/Spark. “The planting of these trees marks a new chapter for the community. The trees, together with the trail itself, will continue to serve as a historic reference point that provides aesthetic, environmental, and public health benefits for generations to come.”

Event Details

When: Saturday, Oct. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: The meeting point for the tree-planting and other activities will be at Fabric Lab, 2514 N. 24th St.

Who: Neighbors of the North Omaha Trail, community members and community partners are invited to participate.

Schedule:

• 8:30 a.m. — GirlTrek Omaha, a walking organization that works to heal intergenerational trauma, fight systemic racism and transform Black lives, will host a 30-45-minute community walk along the trail. Heartland Bike Share will provide free e-bikes, and people are encouraged to bring their own bicycles, scooters, skates or skateboards. Free Lime and Spin scooter passes will also be available.
• 10 a.m. — The community walk will conclude with coffee, tea, baked goods and music from Shari Holistic Healing & Pull Up & Vibe from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fabric Lab.
• Noon — Preston Love Jr. will host a series of North Omaha Legacy Tours, which will showcase the trail and tree-planting while highlighting North Omaha’s past, present and future.
• 12:30 p.m. — Community members will begin planting 175 trees that have been provided by Keep Omaha Beautiful as part of its Trees for Omaha program.

Register: All are welcome to attend the event. Those who are interested in planting trees are required to register in advance: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqwDaRvspt8HISdqc3o6e_j0xBgAvMXOCG0205stQ74WFyVw/viewform?c=0&flr=0&vc=0&w=1.

The North Omaha Trail project follows the examples of other successful urban trails like Atlanta's Beltline Trail, New Orleans’ Lafitte Greenway and Minneapolis’ Midtown Greenway. The project aligns with the goals of the Greater Omaha Chamber’s ConnectGO initiative, which aims to transform the Omaha metropolitan areas’ transportation system to support a more equitable, accessible and modern city.

“In the extensive public engagement that forms the foundation of the ConnectGO Regional Transportation Strategy, we heard repeatedly of the need for greater multimodal connectivity between North Omaha and the rest of the region,” said Stephen Osberg, senior director of transportation and urban development at the Greater Omaha Chamber. “The North Omaha Trail provides a critical link between North Omaha and the region’s urban core. It’s a beautiful project.”

Several community partners have contributed to the creation and success of the North Omaha Trail:

• Keep Omaha Beautiful
• Healing Roots Garden
• Fabric Lab
• Spark
• National Park Service
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
• Stable Gray Inc.
• City of Omaha Parks Department
• City of Omaha Planning Department
• Habitat for Humanity
• City of Omaha Public Works
• ConnectGO
• Heartland Bike Share
• Nebraska Dept. of Transportation
• Spin
• Lime
• North Omaha Legacy Tours
• Lamp Rynearson
• The Sherwood Foundation
• Lozier Foundation
• Weitz Family Foundation
• And other community members and organizations who contributed to the trail’s design guide

About Fabric Lab

Fabric Lab is a Black-led urban design lab, community hub and access point on North 24th Street that centers and supports Black and Indigenous spatial practitioners (architects, planners, creatives, cultural entrepreneurs etc). To learn more visit: www.loc8nearme.com/nebraska/omaha/fabric-lab/6940566/.

About Spark

Spark is a nonprofit community development intermediary that has worked in Omaha since 2016 to profoundly transform disinvested neighborhoods into prosperous and thriving communities.

About Keep Omaha Beautiful

Keep Omaha Beautiful (KOB) has been a vital part of the Omaha community for more than 60 years. The nonprofit engages and educates the local community about environmental stewardship through public outreach and environmental education programs. Every year, the organization also coordinates service opportunities for thousands of volunteers to help ensure Omaha’s urban and natural spaces are safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable.