After the historic floods along the Missouri River in 2011, the riverfront in Bellevue has never quite looked the same.
The high waters put a halt on redevelopment along the river, now those plans are back on track.
The gravel roads and lack of paved parking in the American Heroes Park will get a facelift.
During a meeting Tuesday night, the Papio-Missouri River NRD agreed to split the cost with the city of Bellevue of redeveloping the rest of the riverfront, totaling upwards of $2.8 million dollars.
“We don't have mountains, we don't have oceans so you have to take advantage of what we have,” said John Winkler, General Manager of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District.
The design plans are to give the American Heroes Park a facelift, adding paved trails, a UNO research station and more parking among other amenities.
“People are kind of realizing that the river is an amenity and not just a stream of water that you use for cooling,” said Winkler.
Bellevue Public Works director Jeff Roberts said this redevelopment will be beneficial to two areas; he wants the riverfront to be a destinations location and it would boost the local economy.
“When you get people down there then you got people who are interested in the shops, restaurants,” said Roberts.
Hoping to leave the bad memories of the floods in the past.
Winkler said the hope is to have this project completed in time for Nebraska’s 150th birthday and have a party to celebrate two things.
