Following vocal opposition to the expansion of tennis facilities in Woods Park, near 33rd and “J” streets, the City of Lincoln is inviting residents to voice their opinions through online comment and during several forthcoming community meetings about the proposed project.
Friends of Woods Park protesters. (Tom Stanton, KLIN News)
Nonprofit group Friends of Woods Tennis, which operates the indoor and outdoor tennis facilities at Woods park, requested an amendment to the Woods park master plan last year to allow for an expansion of their facilities. Since then, the city has been engaged in planning and mediation between residents and area stakeholders.
Last week, park supporters and nearby residents dubbed ‘Friends of Woods Park’ hosted an opposition protest to the proposed expansion at Woods Park. Their concerns consisted of increased traffic, commotion near residential areas close by, and the removal of trees and grassy areas.
The city’s Parks and Recreation department will host several community meetings and welcome written writing testimony online as follows:
- Online Survey – A Woods Park Usage Survey will be available until March 17 at lincoln.ne.gov/WoodsParkProposal. Residents are also encouraged to share the survey link on their networks.
- Community Meetings – Three community meetings are scheduled in the lower level of Woods Park Place, 3131 “O” Street: Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, March 4, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, March 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants should enter through the east doors of the building, which will open 30 minutes before each meeting.
The meetings will include a history of Woods Park Master Plans and a presentation by Parks staff outlining the Friends of Woods Tennis expansion proposal. The final 90 minutes of each meeting will be reserved for public testimony. Testimony will be limited to three minutes per person.
“We are really interested in hearing from the entire community about their interest in Woods park and how they feel about this,” Parks & Rec Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross told KLIN News.
Residents are also encouraged to provide written testimony at the meeting or in advance by mail to Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department, 3131 “O” St., Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68510; or email at parks@lincoln.ne.gov. Written testimony should include the phrase “Woods Park Testimony” in the subject line.
For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov/WoodsParkProposal.