General

Greener Together grant helps grow accessibility at City Sprouts garden

It’s been a fixture at 40th and Seward Streets for the past 30 years, one that has grown and evolved along with its surrounding neighborhood. And with the help of grant funding from OPPD’s Greener Together program, City Sprouts Community Garden is more accessible and sustainable than ever. 

 Through Greener Together, customers can make monthly contributions to support green projects throughout OPPD’s 13-county service territory. Nonprofit organizations can apply to be considered for grant funding for projects that involve renewable energy, environmental sustainability and/or community betterment or education. A panel then selects projects to receive grants.  

City Sprouts Community Garden was selected in 2024 to receive $71,630 for upgrades to improve accessibility and sustainability, and that work is now complete. 

“The grant has enabled the installation of accessible walkways, the purchase of adaptive gardening tools, and the addition of solar panels and wayfinding signage—ensuring the garden is truly welcoming to all,” said Carol Blood, executive director of City Sprouts.  

Blood was joined by a number of local dignitaries and community members for a ribbon-cutting celebration August 26. 

“It’s exciting to see how City Sprouts put those dollars to work here,” said Cliff Fleener, vice president of Sustainability for OPPD. “These improvements will help serve more members of the community and serve them better.” 

Produce, community grow here

City Sprouts formed in 1995 when neighbors came together to reclaim an overgrown city lot and make it a garden. The group’s organizers bought the half acre of land. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, weeds were cleared, beds were dug, and seeds planted. Today, City Sprouts Garden Crew volunteers plant and maintain the garden each year.  

Anybody is welcome to harvest fresh in-season produce and explore the garden space or attend an event or workshop. 

“This garden has always been a place where community grows,” Blood said. “With these new improvements, we’re making sure everyone can be part of that growth – regardless of age or ability.”  

Emily Ramelb used to work for City Sprouts, but she attended the event, along with her 3-year-old daughter Charlie, as a neighbor. “It’s been really incredible to see how things have changed,” she said. 

They took to the newly paved pathways on a scavenger hunt and harvested flowers for a bouquet to take home. Ramelb said it was great to see some familiar faces as well as new faces at the garden. 

“Being able to develop new relationships from this shared space has been one of my favorite things here,” she said. 

As Omaha City Council member Lavonya Goodwin spoke to the crowd, she noted that having a place like this to gather is just as important as what the garden produces.  

“It’s about growing opportunities, health and connections across the community,” she said. 

‘You should be proud’

“There’s a lot to be said for what one neighborhood, a few people and a good cause can do. You should be proud of that,” said Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers. 

 “I hope that the work that you’re doing with families and kids … give life and energy to a whole lot of other things, for generations,” he said.   

To learn more about City Sprouts and its many offerings, visit omahasprouts.org.  

Fore more information about Greener Together or contributing to the cause, visit OPPD.com. To submit a project for consideration of grant funding, visit UnitedWayMidlands.org/GreenerTogether.