A fair example...North lookout at Mandan Park-although the grade is steep the reward can be worth the  effort.  Note benches without armrests make getting up difficult!

"Mandan Park has been around for almost 100 years.  Established in the early 1900s, meant to be part of a boulevard road system that would highlight the beauty of the Missouri River, it ended up as a mere park, instead.  Yet for decades it was one of Omaha’s most popular parks, and in 2014 it was actually voted as one of Omaha’s safest parks, coming in at number 9.

What happened? A gradual reduction of services and care for the park that resulted in a free-for-all for poachers, trash dumpers, drug users and prostitutes.  Things that kept average people driving through the park (beautiful lookouts and a well-maintained road, to name just two) disappeared.  Homeless encampments sprung up throughout the park, and neighbors became afraid to walk through it, even though they had made use of it just a few years earlier.  When KOB Friends of Mandan Park began cleaning the park 4 years ago, numerous neighbors were afraid to even drive through.

In spite of this, Mandan Park remained an area with a very low crime level...because there was still a road.  Some people did continue to walk and drive through, and call when they noticed things wrong, which prevented the park from becoming a total loss.  The area that suffered the most during this low period in the history of Mandan Park was the Tear Drop Area...because the City of Omaha closed down this road.  When Friends of Mandan Park began cleaning this area, it was rife with litter, concrete blocks, homeless camps, prostitution bedding, parts of dead animals and drug paraphernalia.  Lack of a road did not make this area any safer.  Instead, it made it 10 times worse.

Now the City of Omaha Parks Department is considering closing the main road through Mandan Park.  This would effectively ruin the park.  The people engaging in prostitution would still simply park at the edge of the park and go off into the woods.  Poachers would once again roam the park with alacrity because they would be well aware that no one would be pursuing them on foot in an attempt to apprehend them.  The same people who dumped in the Tear Drop Area, which had no road, would drive throughout the entire park dumping things.  Drug users would roam through the park again.  And the homeless would once again establish a population in the park because there would be no way to get them out.

The problems with Mandan Park don’t originate from the fact that there is too much access.  They originate from neglect and lack of interest  With a well-paved road and more people in the park, because they were no longer afraid to be in it, Mandan’s problems would disappear, and it would be what it was originally intended to be...a beautiful green space that everyone in the community could enjoy...the disabled, the elderly, the very young...and, finally, even the neighbors." Jacqueline Paulson 

Parks are too often created for children or able-bodied adults. SAFE means everyone can enjoy the natural beauty, appreciate the tranquility, plants, trees, wildlife,fresh air, etc. Being in a park encourages social interactions...which leads to more physical activity... and activities lead to friendships and more exercise.

SAFE should address uneven ground surfaces, trash, a lack of visibility and, with walking paths, a lack of shade. Elderly individuals with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs should not feel vulnerable outdoors. Elderly feel they are not SAFE because of graffiti, "Gang members are there,"  even if they are just younger people. Seniors should feel SAFE in their communities and feel involved.

KOB Friends of Mandan Park and Mount Vernon Gardens, Mandan Park Neighborhoos Association and partners are actively working on numerous activities to engage community and participation in Parks.

Starting at the north parking lot of Mandan, first clear area A shown on the map. This historically is a problem spot and should be cleared to discourage criminals from returning. If they do return once this area is cleared, they will be far from their vehicles and easier to apprehend. When OPD or Citizen Patrol drive through,  there will be visiblity to the street below. Currently, many things happen and are concealed before a car can turn the corner. 

Second  would be two areas, B and C, shown on map. B has been exploited for access for poaching and RV use. There is also a considerable amount of dumping and clearing of the forest here.   C is also an area similar to A.  KOB FOMP would remove honeysuckle at the entrance and along the old roadway.  Visibility and SAFE would deter most activity. Path and benches, we believe, would aid in patrolling and discourage homeless camps. This should enable eyes on the street to see far into the forest.