La Plaza de la Raza, a vision forward

Omaha, NE. A plan to renew South Omaha’s historic business district is being led by two nonprofit organizations, Canopy South and the Latino Economic Development Council, calling the plan “A Vision Forward.” Below is the project proposed by both organizations, its background, and how the plan will be developed.

Introduction

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Community development projects of the 1970s and early 1980s converted N Street and adjacent properties into a surface parking lot and provided new sidewalks. These projects also contained a small open space, referred to as the Plaza de la Raza, to buffer the parking lot from the street and provide a small pedestrian amenity along the street. In the years that followed, a city-sponsored market building floundered, but a real Latino marketplace was blossoming along 24th Street, as Latino entrepreneurs opened new restaurants, shops, offices, and other businesses, complementing traditional businesses along the street. According to Census date from 1990 to 2020, the Hispanic/Latino population in South Omaha has grown from 9.3% to 52.1% of the population.

24TH STREETSCAPE REVITALIZATION

By the early 2000s, the earlier streetscape project deteriorated while the business environment continued to grow. The South Omaha community, with the support of the City of Omaha and the Chamber of Commerce, sponsored a randomized survey and strategic planning effort called Adelante South Omaha – Forward South Omaha. The survey indicated a high degree of support and interest in the district and suggested substantial opportunities for new markets. It also identified the condition of the public realm – deteriorating sidewalks and curbs, lack

of amenities, and poor maintenance – as major obstacles to further business development. This led to a major multi-year commitment by the City to develop an iconic streetscape along South 24th between L and Q Streets.

The resulting streetscape, designed by RDG Planning & Design with extensive community collaboration, was unified by the theme of a Tree of Life – a symbol common to the cavalcade of cultures that have defined the history of this dynamic district. Special art incorporated the iconography and artistic techniques of these cultures, including papercuts, ceramics, and traditional materials derived from precedents in Mexican town plazas. The street itself was modified to provide diagonal parking, slower traffic, and four-way stops, creating a slow-moving processional pattern that further reinforced the street’s pedestrian character. It has contributed to the vitality of one of Omaha’s most active city environments. However, the centerpiece of the project was intended to be a renewed and expanded Plaza de la Raza, a celebratory public space that was never realized. South Omaha now has the opportunity to bring this vision to life with updates to Plaza de la Raza that can match the energy and pride of this thriving business district.

PLAZA DE LA RAZA

Located in the core of South Omaha at 24th and N Streets, Plaza de la Raza is a premier community-focused and culturally significant outdoor gathering space with significant potential for improvement. Though currently lacking defined programming and site amenities, it serves as a prominent location for Omaha’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, drawing thousands of people from near and far to South Omaha. This site has the potential to become a catalyst for economic growth by transforming into an accessible neighborhood park and destination for both residents and visitors.

Now, in 2023, we have the opportunity to reinvent the Plaza
de la Raza and rekindle its potential for economic growth. The COVID pandemic demonstrated the need and importance of public outdoor space and accessible, attractive, and walkable environments for people of all ages and abilities. The City
of Omaha and Douglas County recognized the catalytic potential of the Plaza by allocating $500,000 apiece toward
its development. But a truly comprehensive development initiative expands beyond the Plaza to grow the local economy by capitalizing on culture and addressing significant functional needs. Anticipated funding through the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) and other sources for this multifaceted project, combined with the enterprise and resiliency of the district’s people and businesses, will reinvigorate South Omaha.

The Latino Economic Development Council, Canopy South, the South Omaha Business Improvement District, Omaha Urban Thinkscapes and RDG Planning & Design have been working together to understand the past and prepare for the future

in planning an updated vision for Plaza de la Raza. A strong commitment to engagement of the public has helped this team prepare the current plan for the Plaza as well as establish a vision for additional development within South Omaha. This additional development is planned to include the following:

A Latino Cultural and Economic Development Center with a focus on the preservation, development, and promotion of Latino culture, business, research, technology, workforce development and the arts.

A Parking Garage within walking distance of Plaza de la Raza that can service larger events and other businesses in South Omaha

Transportation Improvements with potential for additional surface parking, improvements to alleyways connecting to the north and south sides of the Plaza, and additional streetscape enhancements.

CONCEPT PRINCIPLES AND FEATURES

The proposed improvements for Plaza de la Raza outlined in this document are focused on the following features:

Performance facility. A top priority for the Plaza will be creating a space for music, dance, and other performing arts that is accessible to a wide range of performers, from kids
to professionals. The site’s topography can create a natural amphitheater with a performance stage that responds to available resources. Attractions & activities will drive foot traffic to South Omaha that will create economic tourism to the district.

Consistency with 24th Street. South Omaha is everybody’s territory. The 24th Street streetscape reflects the symbols and folk art of the people and cultures that have called South Omaha home, while emphasizing the materials, spirit, and colors of public spaces and streets of Mexico and other Latin American countries. The Plaza design will be similarly inclusive, emphasizing Latino culture while also reflecting the neighborhood’s historic and contemporary diversity.

Play. Public spaces in commercial districts benefit from having places for kids that invite play and interaction with other
kids and the environment. But the project envisions fun with meaning, potentially including features that encourage children to make and experiment with music and sound and to explore other parts of the environment. To that end, we are partnering with UNO as part of the university’s Urban Thinkspace initiative.

Gathering space. The busy 24th Street district should be complemented by separate areas where people can gather in small groups or be by themselves to read, think, or watch the life of the street.

Accessibility. The grade of the site west of 24th Street is deceptively steep and approaches 10%. The concept ensures accessibility to people with limited mobility while using the grade to provide stepped terraces as seating for enjoying performances or simply the view and life of the district.

Design Inspiration

MOVEMENT OF FOLKLÓRICO

The site’s organizational layout and design is inspired by the movement and patterns associated with Folklórico, a traditional Latin American dance with variances between different regions. The Jarabe Tapatio, or Mexican Hat Dance, was one of the

first popularized versions of Folklórico as the national dance
of Mexico. In addition to the importance of footwork, the movement of the skirt is a key element of the dance. A region may influence the length of skirt or how high the dancer raises it. The skirt is moved in various patterns within the dance that, coupled with the design of the skirt, creates a visual of fluid and organic movement that amplifies the prominent colors
and patterns in the dress. The site aims to represent these relationships through strong forms that direct movement and sight lines and structure of the park. These forms have inspired organization of sidewalks, plaza space, planting areas, shade and stage structures, and site walls in a manner that recalls folklorico while embracing the demands of a 21st Century urban park space.

The focus of Latino and specifically Mexican heritage is an intentional and important element of this vision. Data has shown that a strong majority of the Latino population in and around South Omaha are of Mexican descent. Translating this history and personal connection to the built environment will help bolster the importance of such a vibrant culture and heritage.

Moving Forward

Transforming Plaza de la Raza has the potential to reinvigorate South Omaha by creating an attractive, accessible space
that will draw in site users, becoming a beacon for economic growth. Grants from the City of Omaha and Douglas County have enabled the vision of Plaza de la Raza to move forward, but additional funding will be needed to realize the timely construction of the site, which has been envisioned to have its grand opening in 2025 to celebrate the 105th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo Omaha. The initial funding for this project will be used to establish an endowment that will support the private maintenance of the site for years to come, allowing it to flourish as an inviting destination park that will support the future development of the neighborhood.

he redevelopment project, Adelante, will forge much-needed economic growth, tourism, and workforce development in South Omaha. As a long-standing historic business market,
the South 24th Street & Plaza de la Raza corridor has been recognized across the U.S. as one of our nation’s most unique cultural business districts. However, it now looks toward the future with a long overdue reinvestment to this community that has the potential to elevate and advance the next generation

of emerging leaders, impacting thousands of lives in order to advance and create economic health and wealth for generations to come.