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The Arbor City committee selected priority projects at its meeting Tuesday that would establish a community art project, beautify entrances, broaden industrial sites and place emphasis on recreational trails.
Committee members Doug Farrar and Tom Farrell said the collaborative art project is expected to involve Nebraska City schools and KHN Center for the Arts, as well as city government and business leaders.
High school art classes would create small scale models of proposed sculptures and outdoor art displays. The models would be sold at auction, with buyers deciding where the actual-size sculpture will be placed, whether it's a park entrance, business district or neighborhood.
Farrar said the collaborative art project will build community pride, draw media attention and invigorate the new community brand, "Arbor Day's Hometown: Where Great Ideas Grow."
The "setting the stage" committee was assigned the priority of establishing a user-friendly map of Nebraska City's existing trails and providing support for additional trail and transportation development.
The "expand the content" committee will work on community entrance and neighborhood beautification projects.
A second industrial site, small business incubator, recycling and a downtown tree planting station were also among top priorities.
The city's "living legacy" tree planting program, an idea that gained traction under the Arbor City banner, is already scheduled for its first planting this Arbor Day.
Mayor Jack Hobbie said he is pleased with the progress made since business location consultant John Rhodes met with citizens in October.
Rhodes said Nebraska City could make its own economic engine by setting its sights on becoming a world-class town for ecology, planting and nature-friendly living.
Mayor Hobbie urged the committee Monday to continue thinking of ways to align Arbor Day Farm, Kimmel Education Research Center, Arbor Day and the rest of the city.
He said the ultimate goals are business development, industrial development and more residents.
Farrar said Nebraska City needs a consistent display and a consistent message and Farrell urged committees to think Arbor Day.
"We have to keep beating that drum," he said.
Rebecca Turner, Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce director who has organized Arbor City meetings, said it is always a good time to get involved.
"People or institutions can insert themselves in this collaboration whenever they are able," she said.
She credited the new city vision statement and slogan as early achievements of the process and said she expects many more ahead.
The Arbor City committee selected priority projects at its meeting Tuesday that would establish a community art project, beautify entrances, broaden industrial sites and place emphasis on recreational trails.
Committee members Doug Farrar and Tom Farrell said the collaborative art project is expected to involve Nebraska City schools and KHN Center for the Arts, as well as city government and business leaders.
High school art classes would create small scale models of proposed sculptures and outdoor art displays. The models would be sold at auction, with buyers deciding where the actual-size sculpture will be placed, whether it's a park entrance, business district or neighborhood.
Farrar said the collaborative art project will build community pride, draw media attention and invigorate the new community brand, "Arbor Day's Hometown: Where Great Ideas Grow."
The "setting the stage" committee was assigned the priority of establishing a user-friendly map of Nebraska City's existing trails and providing support for additional trail and transportation development.
The "expand the content" committee will work on community entrance and neighborhood beautification projects.
A second industrial site, small business incubator, recycling and a downtown tree planting station were also among top priorities.
The city's "living legacy" tree planting program, an idea that gained traction under the Arbor City banner, is already scheduled for its first planting this Arbor Day.
Mayor Jack Hobbie said he is pleased with the progress made since business location consultant John Rhodes met with citizens in October.
Rhodes said Nebraska City could make its own economic engine by setting its sights on becoming a world-class town for ecology, planting and nature-friendly living.
Mayor Hobbie urged the committee Monday to continue thinking of ways to align Arbor Day Farm, Kimmel Education Research Center, Arbor Day and the rest of the city.
He said the ultimate goals are business development, industrial development and more residents.
Farrar said Nebraska City needs a consistent display and a consistent message and Farrell urged committees to think Arbor Day.
"We have to keep beating that drum," he said.
Rebecca Turner, Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce director who has organized Arbor City meetings, said it is always a good time to get involved.
"People or institutions can insert themselves in this collaboration whenever they are able," she said.
She credited the new city vision statement and slogan as early achievements of the process and said she expects many more ahead.
The meeting Tuesday was intended to set priorities out of 20 projects that had been identified in committees.
These included:
- A green house to support downtown plantings and hanging baskets. It might also have spots available for citizens to rent.
- A second industrial site. The current site at Red Fox Run is not ideal for industries "with a large footprint."
- An emphasis on bus tours with tourism and promotion hours.
- A small business incubator to provide space and resources to get new ventures off of the ground and provide strength by co-locating services.
- Community dinners to showcase the city's culinary talents and home-grown products.
- Nuckolls Square redevelopment
- Flower plantings and hanging baskets by district and neighborhoods.
- Recycling drives and recycling drops.
- A dinner train between Nebraska City and Lincoln.
- Beautification of community entrances.
- Trail development and maps.
- An innovation station to promote ecological education and tree growing technologies.
- A downtown tree planting station to provide visitors with an easy way to be involved in planting a tree. Pods, pine cones, elm helicopters, acorns and other seeds will be available for people to symbolically plant a tree by placing them soil-filled crate. The seeds that flourish would be transplanted.
- Community forums for speakers, music and open-microphone talent.
- A centrally-located community center.
- Mayor's newsletter.
