Since the City of Omaha put in 68 decorative planters on South 24th Street about 15 years ago, the South Omaha Business Association (SOBA) has filled them with annuals, maintained the sprinkler system and paid the water bill.
SOBA board member Ross Pesek says thanks to a grant from the City of Omaha, and a lot of volunteer help, the planters are now filled with more sustainable perennial plants.
Pesek says since perennials need less water, they used the City’s grant money to switch from sprinklers to a more water-conserving drip irrigation system. Volunteers from Metro Community College’s Horticulture program installed the system, and volunteers from a local Lowe’s Home Improvement Center helped with the planting.
Pesek calls South Omaha a gem and an asset, and he encourages everyone to check it out.
“It’s got a great history, a unique history, an Omaha history. And you know, you can go down to S. 24th street, you can eat Mexican Food, you can eat El Salvadorian food, you can eat Thai food – all of it made by people from those countries because we have immigrants all over South Omaha. And come on down -- spend a Friday or a Saturday night once a year on S. 24th Street, just like you would any other part of town. And as a South Omaha Business Association member, I just want people to know, South Omaha is open for business.”
For more information, the website is southomaha.org