Elmwood Park, which is located just east of the UNO campus near Dodge St. and Happy Hollow, is one Omaha’s finest regional parks. The park and adjacent city golf course were renovated a few years ago. As part of that renovation, the “Low Road” through the park (University Drive East) was realigned so that it now joins Pacific at 67th St. It has become a major thoroughfare connecting UNO’s North and South Campuses.

The City is studying the feasibility of installing a traffic circle at the east entrance to the park at the intersection of Happy Hollow and Elmwood Park Dr. This is a somewhat confusing intersection protected by yield signs. The traffic circle could enhance safety at this location. The Omaha Public Works Department may hold a public meeting on the project this winter.

Recently UNO hired a consultant to design a traffic circle for the intersection of Elmwood Park Dr. and University Drive East, presently a four-way stop located near Elmwood Park Swim Pool. The University is concerned that the intersection lacks enough capacity to handle the growing volume of traffic, especially moving between the north and south campuses.

Sierra Club is concerned that this traffic circle would encourage more traffic to move via the park and also be hazardous to the large volume of park pedestrians. At traffic circles cars are required to yield instead of stop. This makes it more difficult for pedestrians to cross traffic lanes, especially during periods of heavy traffic. Also, traffic would move faster.

Come to our Pot-luck Dessert at Elmwood Park on Thursday, September 26 at 7:00pm. See the proposed traffic circle site and participate in a discussion about the issue.