People Transforming Communities
NorthFork Riverwalk Common Themes Emerge
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.
For further background information please visit the website and associated blog pages, http://www.northforkne.com/. HDR Engineering Inc., Omaha, NE, is helping develop the master plan for the flood protected 3 mile river corridor.
The next major event is the Visioning Sessions scheduled for April 16th, being held at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 105 Elm St., Norfolk, NE. The Visioning Sessions involving Steering Committee members, key stakeholders, and citizens, will help the project team and community develop a vision for the corridor and some associated goals. Further information is forthcoming to include the case study of communities that have implemented features that may be appropriate for the North Fork river corridor.
The mission of the NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project--To create a recreational, residential, entertainment, and retail/business corridor along the North Fork River to enhance the economic opportunities and the quality of life for the City of Norfolk and Northeast Nebraska.
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.
For further background information please visit the website and associated blog pages, http://www.northforkne.com/. HDR Engineering Inc., Omaha, NE, is helping develop the master plan for the flood protected 3 mile river corridor.
The next major event is the Visioning Sessions scheduled for April 16th, being held at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 105 Elm St., Norfolk, NE. The Visioning Sessions involving Steering Committee members, key stakeholders, and citizens, will help the project team and community develop a vision for the corridor and some associated goals. Further information is forthcoming to include the case study of communities that have implemented features that may be appropriate for the North Fork river corridor.
The mission of the NorthFork Riverwalk Development Project--To create a recreational, residential, entertainment, and retail/business corridor along the North Fork River to enhance the economic opportunities and the quality of life for the City of Norfolk and Northeast Nebraska.
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