\ .. I i j, Omaha Skyline " 1942 Manual of Civic Improvements MAHA owes much to work started some years past and reports of the Civic Improvement Council, the Survey of the National Recreation (9Association, the Carter Lake Development Society and the City Plan­ ning Commission. Their efforts have been an inspiration to the Mayor and City Council of this Administration. We also acknowledge and wish to thank the National Parks Service, the Works Projects Adminisrrarion and the Civilian Conservation Corps (Local, State and National) for their help and assistance. Finally we are indebted to all departments for the services of their willing 'Workers and for the technical help of their skilled experts, consultants and I, advisors. Recreation program by Mayor Dan B. Butler , .. Page 2 Park Improvements by Commissioner Roy N. Towl Page 8 Boulevards by Commissioner John Kresl Page 18 Airport Improvements by Commissioner Harry Knudsen Page 24 Public Improvements by Commissioner Harry Trustin Page 26 Police - Safety by Commissioner Richard W. Jepsen , Page 28 Fire Department by Commissioner Walter Korisko. .. ....... .. .. Page 30 - Photo b:-' Hodes SOUTH ENTRANCE CITY HALL , Eighteenth and Farnam Streets I Front cover photograph, by COtty· teJ'Y of the National Parks Service, Dixtrict offi,ce, Omaha, Nebraska Back cover photograph hy c01lr­ les)' of U7alter Crdig f{alj./MICS by IL\lOdl E~(;JUVI N'; C,1;IJJ'.\N"Y, Omaha Printcd by n<>lJ"I.,IS Pm;>,'Tl.>';'; (iHfh\:.;Y, ()111.1!l,1 Supervised Recreation The Omaha Recrearion Deparrment was created Participation in the departmental program has in­ for the purpose of providing a city-wide, carefully creased materially year by year with, of course, the planned recreational program for the cirizens of exception of young men of military age who have Omaha, regardless of age. None is too old and none been inducted into the service. The goal of the De­ too young to take part in the activities of this de­ partment - to furnish supervised recreation to rhe parrment. entire city - is being rapidly realized. Swings In the Omaha Many thousands of Omaha boys and girls from parks form one of the toddlers to those in their teens, as well as thousands Working in conjunction wirh the Works Projecrs principal amusements for of '"grown-ups" find happy activity at municipal play­ Administration, which has co-operated 100 per cent boys and girls in the Rec­ grounds in the summer and in Recreation Centers with rhe Ciry, the Recreation Department has made reation Centers that are in the winter. great strides in providing a systematized and super­ carefully supervised by vised recreational program for the citizens of Omaha. Recreation Department Programs of the Recreation Department, include workers. scores of activities affording a wide choice to those Orher departments of rhe city government, notably who desire to participate in the amusement, training rhe Park Department, the Police and Fire Depart­ or sport features of the department. These activities ments, the Health Department, the Street Depart­ Pho/Q by National Parks Service embrace sports and games of all kinds for children ment, the Department of Public Improvements and and adults, music, dram.atics, gymnastics, handicrafts the Building Department, have been of much assist­ and other pursuits. ance in carrying on the diversified program. An idea of the extent of the work of the depart­ at Elmwood Park on Sunday evenings. This service Steady progress has been made in the development ment may be better gained when it is known that helped in the promoting of good neighborliness, For the first time the juvenile population of the of the recreational program during the past four during the past year the centers and playgrounds citizenship, and an appreciation for music, which inci­ years. At the present time 27 centers and play­ city was given a supervised leisure time program have carried on 51 different activities in a total of dentally was gratefully accepted by the public. grounds, operated in parks and special locations are when the present Recreation Department was estab­ 23,403 classes or events with a gross participation kept open and further extension of the activities is lished in 1938, following a survey and report of the of 869,015 persons including 141,000 men, 79,000 Much playground equipment, mosr of which was planned, as soon as feasible. National Recreation Association. women, 312,000 boys, 247,000 girls, and about 90,­ manufactured in the Department shops, was installed 000 small children of both sexes. in the parks and playgrounds. The consrruction of a lighted playground, horseshoe and tennis courts The organization of leagues in all major sports and softball field at Athletic Park, 23rd and L streets, has played an important part in the year round pro­ South Omaha, was one of the major improvements gram, prominent among these being: Basketball with made in 1941. Extension of the facilities in this sec­ 19 leagues, embracing 175 teams playing 1,400 tion is planned for 1942, because the opening of the games; Softball with 16 leagues, embracing 128 bombet plant at Fort Crook is expected to increase teams playing 2,240 games; Volleyball with 4 the number of participants in the sports and games. leagues, embracing 32 teams and 288 games; Soccer, 2 leagues, embracing 12 teams playing 30 games. The Recreation Department, with the co-operation These teams played before an estimated total specta­ of the Works Projects Administration, has operated a complete' machine shop in which men and boys Miniature boat races are tor attendance of 58,656 people, and City tourna­ ments were run off in the following activities: Basket­ have been given valuable training in mechanical tbe delight of many small work of all kinds. boys who sail their boats ball, Horse Shoes, Marbles, Softball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Track and Field, Kite Flying, Handcraft under the carefttl super­ In this shop much of the equipment used in the display, Airplane contest, Sailboat Regatta and Danc­ 1/iJion of Re ere a t ion recreational activities throughout the city has been Department officials. mg. manufactured. The value of the equipment thus The Department, through it's sponsorship of the turned is estimated at more than $20,000. In the WPA Music Project, provided music and super­ making of these articles the workers were given an vision for the Community '"Sings" which were held opportuniry to learn skills of various kinds. Fho/a br Trabold Page Two Family picnics on the shores of Carter Lake make enjoyable JttJnm,er outings for Omaha citi­ zens cmd swimming in tbe Lake is tt fttvorite sport of thottscmds of persons. Omaha's Lakeland. has only started and will be all find the work not only interesting but very in­ carried on until the development of the region has structive and of real, practical value. been completed. Trained instructors are in charge of the classes and they give individual instruction to each student. The generous gifts and Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Cornish Handicraft of almost every kind is taught in the have made possible much of the development work school and hundreds of persons, young and old, take of the Carter Lake territOry. advantage of the opportunity to learn a useful art. The handicraft school is growing in popularity Classes in handicraft are about the most popular among the patrons of the Recreation Department classes held by the Recreation Department. They are Photo by Tfnbold classes and every effort is being made to accomodate patronized by boys and girls as well as adults. They all who desire to take the training. The shop was one of the most popular enterprises volley ball and soccer games and tournaments at­ carried on by the Recreation Department and at­ tracted almost 60,000 persons and were participated tracted many men, young and old, who desired to in by more than 4,500 players. avail themselves of irs advantages. Dramatic productions were taken part in by several The future of this shop work is in doubt owing to hundred persons and were given before several thou­ a curtailment of Works Projects Administration sand spectatOrs. One handicraft exhibit, showing the funds but ir is hoped that it may be carried on under work of Recreation Department members was viewed some arrangement during the coming year. by hundreds of persons. That the activities of the Recreation Department lu addition to the huge Sunday night community are not all fun and frivolity was proven by the course sings, held in Elmwood Park, the department held of training given in this shop, which afforded men [5 other sings which were participated in by several Hundreds of boys ttnd the opportunity to acguire at least some valuable skill thousand citizens of every age. with tools. It was useful training even though they girls attend httndicrc4t The Carter Lake region is faSt becoming a great made no immediate use of it. clttsses ttS shown in the ttC­ recreational center and thousands of persons enjoy comptmying pbotogrttph. More than 40,000 persons attended picnics staged its advantages each year. Picnics are held daily The yotmg folks take tt by the Recreation Department during 1941 and more throughout the warm weather on the piers and shores keen interest in their lUork than 30,000 persons were in attendance at dances of the lake. Swimming and bathing is, of course, the tmder trained. competent sponsored and arranged by the department. most popular sport on, or rather in, the lake. sttpervision. Concerts were attended by almost 10,000 and the The combined work of the Recreation and Park fun programs were participated in by 3,500 persons departments is making Carter Lake a real summer playground for Omaha citizens.