The Springbrook neighborhood, at 72nd and Weber Street, offers many of the same amenities as other SID’s (sanitary and improvement districts). One notable difference can be found along N. 76th Street, where a community garden overflowing with produce, herbs and flowers fills a former void between homes.
Cultivation of the garden began in early 2013 when Amie Carnahan, Springbrook resident and board member, brought her idea to Bob Czerwinski of E&A Consulting Group, Inc. Bob, as E&A’s Municipal Services Department Manager, is responsible for ongoing professional management and maintenance of 110 SIDs just beyond Omaha’s city limits, including Springbrook. E&A also provided civil engineering services for the new subdivision in 2003. Bob researched the concept and developed a plan for the garden that included: 26 raised beds filled with a mix of topsoil and dirt, a tool hutch with message board, a water source and sprinkler system. The garden was completed in spring of 2013, and reaction from neighbors was immediate and positive; all plots were quickly claimed and a waiting list for 2014 developed, along with plans for expansion and fencing along the perimeter.
For more information about the project, call E & A Consulting Group at (402) 895-4700 or visit www.eacg.com.