New flood prevention project coming to northwest Omaha
Near 180th and Fort Streets in northwest Omaha, all you see right now is empty land. It will soon be transformed into something new. “We’ll have the dam with the flood control pool of water,” said Amanda Grint with the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District. “There will also be recreational features associated with this site too like a trail around the project and a picnic area.” The project has been in the works for decades. On Tuesday, the city gave the green light for construction to begin. “We would maintain the dam and all the working parts of the flood control and water quality basins,” Grint said. “The park part gets turns over the jurisdiction it resides in so this case will be the city.”
The park will also have a lake with the trail surrounding it. Other amenities include areas where people can kayak. Once it’s all built, it will be a part of NRD’s 12 completed or soon to be completed water dams. “We’re very excited to get started,” Grint said. “This project has been around for a very long time.” As this project becomes a reality, neighbors nearby are excitedly counting down the days until the new park is finished. “It’s going to be a good thing,” Grint said. “I’m honestly looking forward to it.” Construction for the project will begin in the summer. Federal dollars along with money from the NRD’s general fund, and water fees collected by new metro homes will be used to construct the dam and park.
