Nebraska Memorial Forest, (Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – The Nebraska Memorial Forest program wants to plant trees just east of the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island to honor fallen heroes from military and first responder duties.
J.J. Green is volunteering as coordinator of the Grand Island/Hall County project. At this point, there are approximately 140 fallen heroes to honor, Green said.
City Council members had a handout in their packet with a list of locations and dates where trees had been planted in the state. The first planting occurred in September 2022 in Omaha, and the most recent planting occurred at Summit Lake State Park in Burt County on Oct. 30, 2024. To Date, 1,765 trees have been planted.
For each tree planted, there is a GPS location and a QR code used for identification of that tree. Information can be loaded onto a website with information about the hero honored by that tree.
In Grand Island, the Nebraska Memorial Forest Program would like to plant up to 160 trees on 2.5 acres of land east of the cemetery.
Green said that a variety of sources will be approached to fund the project. The program will have a maintenance fund with the Grand Island Area Community Foundation to cover current and ongoing maintenance of the property.
“I think this would serve a very useful purpose,” Council member Chuck Haase said.
The City Council had public hearings about several development projects in Grand Island. The first project is by Innate Concepts for property north of Husker Highway and west of Prairie View Street. Developer Scott Rief said construction would start in the spring of 2025 on 22 single family homes. The cost is in excess of $16 million, and the vinal estimated valuation is $13.2 million. Rief told about projects that have already been constructed in the area.
“We are selling the lots at cost,” Rief said. Innate is seeking $3.16 million in TIF funding over a 15-year period for the project.
“Everything looks great out there,” Council member Mitch Nickerson said.
“The community needs housing,” Council member Chuck Haase said. The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the redevelopment plan. Council member Michelle Fitzke was absent from the meeting.
Another redevelopment plan was sought for Talon Apartments north of Husker Highway and east of South Locust Street. The plan is to add 66 units at a cost in excess of $12 million. The final valuation would be $11 million. Construction would start in April or May and would take nine to 12 months. $3.14 million in TIF funding is being sought. The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the redevelopment plan.
Woodsonia Real Estate made a request to change Grand Island City Code regarding the minimum number of parking spots required for one-bedroom apartments in multifamily buildings. The current minimum is two parking spaces per one-bedroom apartment. The request was to reduce the minimum number of parking spaces to 1.5 parking spaces. The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the change.
J.J. Green of Grand Island gives a presentation Nov. 19 to Grand Island’s City Council about the Nebraska Memorial Forest program, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
