Benson Neighborhood Association
We make Benson better.
The Benson Neighborhood Association (BNA) was originally comprised of five neighborhood associations that were formed within the Benson boundaries between 1910 and 1920. The Benson Neighborhood Association as we know it today was formed in 1977 by a group of concerned citizens under the name of Benson Neighborhood Community Council. Members from the Benson Neighborhood Association are founding members of the now citywide Omaha Coalition of Citizen Patrols.
Visit the website: http://www.bensonneighbors.com/
Planning for 2026 by Kathy Buchanan As I mentioned in our December newsletter, the BNA board took a little time off for the holidays and is regrouping later this month to look at what we plan to do in 2026. Our mission statement: The Benson Neighborhood Association strives to build community by connecting neighbors, fostering civic involvement, supporting businesses, and promoting a safe, vibrant neighborhood while celebrating our rich, diverse history.
Our efforts and our initiatives should always support our mission. We receive ideas for a lot of interesting and fun events. Some we are ready to add to our calendar, some we have on the back burner, some we don’t have the capacity to pull off and some just don’t fit our mission.
Looking forward, we will continue to focus on the beautification of our neighborhood and promote ways to maintain a safe environment. Last year, we strived to get neighbors involved in litter control. We are going to increase our efforts in this area. Perhaps we will get to the next level and plant something in a public spot.
We know many neighbors put a lot of effort into their own landscapes. We would like to recognize community members who take the effort to make our neighborhood stand out in a good way.
Citizen Patrol We also would like to re-invigorate our citizen patrol. We have struggled to get it off the ground again since the pandemic, but are looking for some people to drive or walk the neighborhood and look for things that just don’t look right or could be unsafe (this could be graffiti, street lights out, cars that look abandoned, suspicious activity, etc.).
Citizen patrol is similar to neighborhood watch, but goes beyond your own block to the neighborhood as a whole. The commitment is to go through some training and then give any hours you can to the effort. This could be a couple of hours a week or a month.
Speaking from years of experience, it can be a great way to get to know the neighborhood and also spend some time with a friend.
Our citizen patrol is under the umbrella of the Omaha Coalition of Citizen Patrols, with patrols across the metro area. This organization provides the training along with the Omaha Police Department.
If you are interested, you can email the BNA or call Kathy Buchanan at 402-551-2884. A training class could be as soon as the first week in February.
CSO Beginning Additional Neighborhood Project The 61st and Radial Storm Sewer (CSO) Project includes construction of both sanitary and storm sewer to provide sewer separation. In this area, rainwater and wastewater currently flow through the same pipes. During heavy rain, this can cause polluted water to overflow into Cole Creek. By separating stormwater from sewage, this project prevents polluted overflows during rain and helps keep Cole Creek cleaner and healthier. Please join us at the Open House on January 21, 2026, from 5 to 7 PM at the Benson Branch Library (6015 Binney St) to learn more about the project as well as potential impacts and phasing. A brief presentation will start at 5:30 PM. For any questions, please contact Tyler Wynn at 402-215-8046 or by email at TWynn@Benesch.com
