After months of work, what was once an abandoned lot is now a community gathering space near 33rd and Ruggles streets in Omaha. The occasion was celebrated with a cookout Thursday.

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WEBVTT KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S SEAN EVERSONHAS THE CELEBRATION FROM 33RDAND RUGGLES.SEAN AFTER MONTHS OF WORK, WHAT: WAS ONCE AN ABANDONED LOT, ISNOW A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE.HOT DOGS ON THE GRILL TOSSINAROUND THE FOOTBALL THE, CELEBRATION OF A COMPLETEDPROJECT.>> IT WAS DESERTED FOR AWHILE.WE CAME OUT, CLEANED UP, PICKEDUP THE TRASH, PUT A FEW LOGSOUT, BUILT A FEW TABLE>> 22-YEAR-OLD MARQUISE COLLINSWAS ONE OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE ONPROBATION.WORKING WEEK AFTER WEEK AT THISLOT IN NORTH OMAHAIT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORTWITH THEIR PROBATION OFFICERS,LOCAL POLICE AND LOCAL NONPROFITOMAHA 'PERMACULTURE.' >> IN THE CASE OF VACANT LANDAND FOLKS THAT HAVE FALLEN INTOTHE SYSTEM, WE CAN COMBINE THOSETWO THINGS TO TURN IT INTO ACOMMUNITY SOLUTION.WET THIS PICNIC THURSDAY A WAY-- >> THIS PICNIC THURSDAY A WAYTO CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE IMPACTIN THE COMMUNITY.>> IT ACTUALLY DOES FEEL GOOD TOGIVE BACK.I WANT TO GIVE BACK IN SOME TYPEOF WAY, SOMETHING AS LITTLE ASTHIS OR IT COULD BE BIGGER, BUTANY WAY, IT DOES FEEL GOOD>> SHOWING THAT A NEGATIVESITUATION CAN BE TURNED AROUND.>> WE WANT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TOKNOW THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENTIS BEHIND THEM AND THE POSITIVEACTIVITIES, SUPPORTING THEM TOBETTER THEMSELVES AND BETTER THECOMMUNITY.>> IT WAS A NICE ACCOMPLISHMENT.IT KEPT US OUT OF TROUBLE, ITKEPT TIME GOING AND WE'VE GOTMORE PROJECTS TO COME.>> THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OMAHAPERMACULTURE, THE OMAHA POLICEDEPARTMENT, AND THE PROBATIONOFFICE WILL CONTINUE IN THEFUTURE, WITH GROUPS WORKING ATDIFFERENT SITES THROUGHOUT THE

Advertisement Probation group, officers, community celebrate lot project After months of work, what was once an abandoned lot is now a community gathering space near 33rd and Ruggles streets in Omaha. The occasion was celebrated with a cookout Thursday. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

After months of work, what was once an abandoned lot is now a community gathering space near 33rd and Ruggles streets in Omaha.The occasion was celebrated with a cookout Thursday."It was deserted for awhile. We came out, cleaned up, picked up the trash, put a few logs out, built a few tables," 22-year-old Marquise Collins said.Collins joined a group of people on probation who worked week after week at the lot in North Omaha.It was collaborative effort with their probation officers, local police and local nonprofit Omaha Permaculture."In the case of vacant land and folks that have fallen into the system, we can combine those two things to turn it into a community solution," Graham Herbst, with Omaha Permaculture said.The picnic Thursday was a way to celebrate the positive impact in the community."It actually does feel good to give back. I want to give back in some type of way, something as little as this or it could be bigger, but any way, it does feel good," Collins said.It showed that a negative situation can be turned around. "We want those individuals to know that the Police Department is behind them and the positive activities, supporting them to better themselves and better the community," Capt. Ken Kanger with the Omaha Police Department said."It was a nice accomplishment. It kept us out of trouble, it kept time going and we've got more projects to come," Collins said.The partnership between Omaha Permaculture, the Omaha Police Department, and the probation office will continue in the future, with groups working at different sites throughout the city.