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| Veterans Memorial Garden at Antelope Park |
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06.12.10 Women Airforce Service Pilots Memorial Dedicated
In March, almost 70 years after the fact, the women who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots on the homefront of World War II collected Congressional Gold Medals in ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
Now the 19 Nebraska WASPS, from the ranks of 1,102 American women who roared into the air from 1942 to 1944, have their own stone marker in Lincoln's Veterans Memorial Garden.
Mary Williamson of Omaha, 86 and one of only four living WASPS with Nebraska ties, was on hand Saturday for the dedication.
"I want to thank all my sisters in the sky," Williamson said as she waited for the American flag draped across the monument to be lifted away. "I wish they could be here."
To Read More...
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| Graf Family, Parks Foundation, Community Foundation at Union Plaza |
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05.19.10 Parks Foundation Accepts $600,000 Gift To Union Plaza
Dave Dinsmore beamed as he looked over Antelope Valley from the partially built amphitheater for which his mother's money will pay. "It's tremendous," he said. "I think they hit it out of the park."
On Wednesday, Dinsmore and city officials announced a $600,000 gift from the Lincoln Community Foundation, on behalf of the Sheila Dickinson Dinsmore Graf and Burket Graf Fund. The donation to the Lincoln Parks Foundation is the largest in the community foundation's history. It will pay for the outdoor amphitheater and surrounding trails at Union Plaza between 21st and 22nd streets from O to R streets.
The money, which makes up about 10 percent of the privately funded portion of the park, also is one of the largest gifts to city parks in many years, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Johnson said. "It's certainly in the top four or five that I can think of. "It's amazing, to be perfectly honest," he said. "It's obviously a huge gift to the park and a huge gift to the community."
To Read More...
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| Volunteers at the Sunken Gardens |
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5.15.10 VOLUNTEERS WAKE UP THE BEDS AT SUNKEN GARDENS
The sun peeked in and out of the clouds Saturday morning as about 100 volunteers, trowels in hand, went to work.
Each year, gardening volunteers and staff of the Lincoln Parks and Recreation department plant thousands of annuals in Lincoln's historic garden at 27th and Capitol Parkway.
This year's garden theme is "Power of the Peacock," said Steve Nosal, garden designer for the space. It will feature yellows, blues and greans, like the colors seen in peacock feathers. To Read More...
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| Pictured from left are: Susan Larson Rodenburg, parks fundraiser; Sherwin Hudson of BNSF, Lynn Johnson, Director of Lincoln Parks and Recreation; Roger Larson, co-chair of Union Plaza Campaign; Boyd Andrew, BNSF. |
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12.09 BNSF Gift to Union Plaza
Officials from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. (BNSF) recently presented a $30,000 check to the Lincoln Parks Foundation for Union Plaza, a new six-acre urban park being built north of "O" Street between 21st and 22nd Streets. Part of the Antelope Valley Project, Union Plaza is scheduled to open to the public in 2011.
"Lincoln is fortunate to have so many companies which have a strong tradition of giving back to our community and this gift is a clear example of that commitment," according to Union Plaza Campaign Co-Chair Roger Larson.
"Union Plaza is shaping up to be exactly what we envisioned- a beautiful destination landmark in our community that will infuse that area with activity and excitement. The community and corporate support for Union Plaza proves the point that beautiful public spaces are critical to the enhancement of our community's economic development efforts," according to Christie Dionisopoulos, President of the Lincoln Parks Foundation.
To Read More...
12.09 Lincoln Parks Foundation Fall Newsletter
The Lincoln Parks Foundation proudly published its first newsletter in the Fall of 2009. The Foundation will publish a traditional newsletter in both the Spring and Fall of each year to communicate with our supporters and to share inspiring stories about those who support our mission to enhance Lincoln's beautiful public spaces and critical human service programs.
Click Here To Read the Newsletter...
To sign up for our free monthly E-Newsletter, Pathways, Join Our Mailing List Today!
11.09 Centennial Mall Plans Create Excitement & Headlines
11.09 New Website Launch: Revitalizing Nebraska's Centennial Mall!
Nebraska's Centennial Mall Website Sign up for free newsletter updates, view design ideas, be part of history in the making!
11.10.09 Crowd Takes in Plans for Centennial Mall
A bustling crowd showed up at the Scottish Rite Temple on Tuesday to see preliminary plans for a revamped Centennial Mall.
More bustling, perhaps, than the aging mall itself.
But what the crowd saw, its designers say, will reverse the area's blight and create a safer, more vibrant space between the Capitol and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. To Read More...
11.08.09 Who will put Centennial Mall Back Together Again?
Cracks run down the rock-encrusted walkways like rivers down a map.
Uneven slabs of concrete pop up along the side. Edges of steps are crumbling, and the fountains no longer function.
Centennial Mall is falling apart.
Stretching from the State Capitol on K Street north to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on R Street, the mall was built in 1967 to mark Nebraska's centennial as a state. It has been home to festivals, marches and, memorably, Bob Kerrey's 1991 announcement of his presidential candidacy.
"It's needed repair for a while now," said Mayor Chris Beutler. "But beyond that I think it can be one of the special gems of the state. It's a sweeping, symbolic vista and connection between the university and the Capitol. It's a lovely space." To Read More...
11.08.09 Don't Miss This Chance on Mall
Nebraskans have an opportunity Tuesday to look over plans for renovating Centennial Mall and to offer their views.
And there's a intriguing plus.
The event is being held in the Scottish Rite Temple, local lodge of the ancient, mysterious fraternal Freemason organization featured in "The Lost Symbol," latest thriller by Dan Brown, author of "The DaVinci Code."
"Most people living in this town have never been in there," said JoAnne Kissel, leader of the Centennial Mall design team. "It's a fabulous space."
The temple is at 332 Centennial Mall South. The open house on the renovation plans is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m.
It's been evident for years - decades, actually - that the mall was in need of renovation and redesign. To Read More...
11.11.09 The Brick Brigade: Volunteers put Heart & Soul In Veterans Memorial Garden
Ken Orr fell into bricks.
Years ago, the 85-year-old former Air Force mechanic served on a committee that built the China Burma India monument at Lincoln's Veterans Memorial Garden.
It was the World War II theater he served in, running heavy equipment for the Army, building roads and camps, doing the kind of crucial work never immortalized in books or film.
Anyway, Orr helped raise the money for the China Burma India monument in Lincoln.
"I told my wife when that was over, I was done with that kind of work," Orr said.
Except he liked the guys he met while working at the Veterans Memorial Garden. And when he found out they needed a brick chairman, he fell for it.
That was 1999. To Read More...
9.18.09 Dinner Supports New Tree Program
Read about the Lincoln Parks Foundation's annual signature event, Night At the Gardens, and the New Tree Legacy Program in the Neighborhood Extra
9.17.09 Public Gardens Internship to be offered to Horticulture Student
The soil at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Agronomy and Horticulture Department isn't the only thing that's rich, thanks to a donation from the Kenneth J. Good estate. The financial present was one of three gifts used to fund park projects in Lincoln.
Good was a UNL graduate who died in July 2008 at age 92. He had a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences and worked in the city as a soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil and Conservation Service.
The $162,000 contribution to the horticulture department will establish a Public Gardens Internship, granting one student per year a paid internship.
During the internship, the chosen student will help research, design, install and maintain public gardens.
Read the Full Story in the Daily Nebraskan
9.10.09 Park Foundation Announces Three Signifigant Gifts & New Tree Legacy Program
Mayor Chris Beutler and the Lincoln Parks Foundation today announced that three significant gifts from the Kenneth J. Good estate will be used to fund two new program initiatives and a key amenity in Union Plaza. Good passed away in July 2008 at the age of 92. He was a UNL graduate who had a 31-year career as a soil scientist with the USDA Soil and Conservation Service in Lincoln.
"Mr. Good had a passion for parks, trees, and gardens, and these gifts will enable us to share his passion with future generations," said Mayor Beutler. "We are pleased that he recognized our excellent parks system and chose to support it in this way. His generosity is an inspiration to all of us, and we will work to find ways to leverage his gifts with other private and public resources while protecting Mr. Good's intent and wishes." For More Information...
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| Mayor Chris Beutler announced the Lincoln Parks Foundation is the new matching sponsor. Pictured from left are: Lynn Johnson, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director; Christie Dionisopoulos, Lincoln Parks Foundation; Ann Shrewsbury of Time Warner Cable; Todd Hall, Lincoln Electric System; and Mayor Chris Beutler. |
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2.26.09 Lincoln Parks Foundation Joins Lincoln Cares Partnership
Mayor Chris Beutler today announced that the Lincoln Parks Foundation has become the newest matching sponsor for the Lincoln Cares, a 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.
Lincoln Parks Foundation will provide a 50-cent match for every dollar contributed, up to $15,000, for the next year. The Foundation joins Time Warner Cable (TWC), which is in its second year of sponsorship. TWC will provide $30,000 in matching dollars and another $30,000 for on-air promotion of Lincoln Cares.
"Lincoln Cares is a perfect fit for the mission of the Lincoln Parks Foundation, which is to provide funds to help enhance our parks and recreation opportunities above and beyond what the City should budget for each year," said Christie Dionisopoulos, President of the Lincoln Parks Foundation. "As Lincoln grows, so do the demands on our parks system. We believe strongly that Lincoln parks and recreation programs and facilities are fundamental to our community and we are excited to be a new partner with Lincoln Cares."
To Read More...
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