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WHAT's the need?

Accessibility for veterans, neighbors in wheelchairs, older adults, families with strollers and anyone with mobility challenges.

That's us! circa 2020 with our first-born,

Nilo, and our dog, Oso.

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Since we moved to Dundee, Memorial Park has been one of our favorite destinations for long walks after work. It was only after Nilo was born, when we began pushing a stroller through the neighborhood, that we realized we couldn't access the park from the Underwood entrance near the memorial. What seemed like a small inconvenience at first became a clear reminder that the park is not equally accessible to everyone.​ While the issue is inconvenient for families with strollers, the challenge is even greater for veterans visiting the memorial, older adults with limited mobility, people using wheelchairs, and anyone who cannot comfortably navigate stairs.

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That realization became the starting point of a personal commitment to learn how residents can create change in their own community. Over the next three years, we asked questions, learned how the process works, and began bringing together local stakeholders who shared a simple belief: public spaces should be accessible to the people who use them.

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In many ways, this effort follows the same spirit that created Memorial Park itself. In 1943, local businesswoman Lulu Broad envisioned a permanent memorial honoring those who served our country, and championed the idea publicly. The following year, more than 3,000 citizens and businesses came together to raise over $233,000 to purchase the land and build the park. Memorial Park exists today because neighbors believed in a shared vision and worked together to make it happen.

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Today, nearly eighty years later, we have the opportunity to continue that legacy.

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Now, with our second son, Andes, in that same stroller (he turned one on June 6, the anniversary of Memorial Park!), we are excited to share this project publicly and invite neighbors, foundations, and community partners to help make it a reality.

 

Thanks to Molly Romero, a respected Dundee community advocate, Dundee-Memorial Park Neighborhood Association, and the local architectural firm AO, we obtained conceptual renderings showing what an accessibility ramp could look like. With further support from the Omaha Parks Foundation and community leaders such as Tiffany Ragan, this idea has evolved into an official project aimed at making Memorial Park accessible to everyone with mobility needs by the end of 2027.

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To ensure diligence, transparency, and genuine community input, we formed two committees: a Technical Committee to guide design and engineering considerations, and a Community Advisory Committee to reflect neighborhood values and priorities throughout the process. You'll find their names below, so if you know them, please thank them for generously contributing their time and expertise!

 

We are energized to help carry forward the legacy that built Memorial Park in the first place: neighbors coming together to improve a shared public space for future generations.

 

Let's do it!​

Buey Tut & Mariana Nieto

You can help by kicking off Phase 2 with a small contribution, and asking your friends and neighbors to support as well!

Community Advisory Committee

  • John Andresen
  • Becky App
  • Frances Failla
  • Joanne Ferrara
  • Rachel Jacobson
  • Molly Romero

Technical Committee

  • Mike McMeekin
  • Jeff Spiehs
  • Eric Williams
  • Kene Okigbo
  • Davielle Phillips
  • John Williams

fundraising
&
project timeline

Phase 1: The Blueprint Step (Goal: $150,000)

Before construction begins, we need a professional plan. This phase funds the architects and designers who will facilitate community listening sessions and create the official blueprints.

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Phase 2: The Construction Phase
Once we have the professional designs and an accurate price tag from Phase 1, we move into building. This phase focuses on larger capital investments. It is much easier to secure significant construction grants when we can present beautiful, professional renderings and a verified budget.


Fundraising Approach:

  • In-Kind Support: The City of Omaha has agreed to provide in-kind assistance to support project logistics.

  • The Final Match: The City of Omaha has also agreed to consider providing the remaining 10–20% of funding once our private fundraising reaches the 80–90% mark.

  • Strategic Advantage: Broad community contribution at this stage significantly strengthens our requests to large national and local foundations.


Why This Phased Approach?

  • Financial Accuracy: We want to avoid guesswork. Phase 1 provides the exact figures needed to be responsible stewards of every donated dollar.

  • Community Voice: The design phase is built on listening to you. We want to ensure the accessibility features actually meet the needs of the individuals and families who use Memorial Park every day.

  • Urgent Momentum: By hitting our Phase 1 goal by the end of July, we can start the design process before the fall, keeping the momentum moving toward a park everyone can enjoy.

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