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 On September 27th, Brittney McLaughlin addressed the council
representing a group who is working to establish “Central Bark Dog
Park” in the city. In her presentation, she requested that the city
re-purpose the property on Eighth Street, officially named Apex @
City Center, to become Central Bark Dog Park. Speaking on behalf of
the whole committee, she presented a concept for the park and a plan
for the city to take over the administration of the park.
At the end of her presentation, there was some discussion among the
aldermen. However, no action items were added to the next voting
session. Instead, aldermen said they wanted time to contemplate the
request and to also discuss it publicly at the new Committee of the
Whole, scheduled for October 11th.
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History of Apex at City Center
In September 2011, after moving to its new location on the city’s
west side, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital officials determined
that the old hospital on Eighth Street would be demolished. Soon
after, it was decided that the hospital would give the Eight Street
property to the city. Parcels of the total property were also
donated to the Lincoln Elementary School District and St. John’s
United Church of Christ. The largest portion of the site,
approximately 5.5 acres, was donated to the city. During the
discussions between the city and the hospital, it was determined
that the city should use the property for a health-related project.
During a ceremony for the deed transfer, then Mayor Keith Snyder
announced that the city would work to develop the property into a
health park. In October 2011, a committee was formed, and
discussions began on what the vacant lot would become. With several
involved in the process, the committee came up with the Apex @ City
Center, stressing that it was not a city park, but rather an outdoor
health and exercise area.
In January of 2012, the final draft of the concept drawing for the
health center was unveiled at a public meeting held at the Lincoln's
Central School.
In March, the city of Lincoln approved the plan for the park, with
no funding for the completion of the project coming from the city.
Snyder indicated that a fundraising committee would be established,
and there would be future opportunities for grants.
Since 2012, there has been very little additional discussion about
the Apex @ City Center.
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History of the Dog Park project
In November of 2013, Kelly McEvers, a radio journalist with NPR, who
hails from Lincoln, delivered a stinging report about the city of
Lincoln in a national radio broadcast. While McEvers claimed to be
using her hometown as an example of the deterioration of small-town
America, it hit home hard, and stunned many community leaders into
action.
As it happened, local business owner Patrick Doolin and the
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce had scheduled a Boomtown
USA meeting, a follow-up to a meeting held in October. With the
outrage over the article the meeting quickly became a town hall
meeting to fight back against the perception of Lincoln presented by
McEvers. Later, inspired inspired by a Letter to the Editor by
Snyder, entitled “We are Lincoln,” a new “We are Lincoln”
group would evolve.
[Nila Smith]
Past related articles
Apex @ City Center
Dog Park
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