Brownville Keeps Working on Riverfront

A couple of years ago Rural Resurrection posted a story about Brownville. This small town in Southeast Nebraska is incredibly resilient. Like many other towns along the Missouri River, they were impacted for weeks by the floodwaters of 2019. Never ones to roll over, the residents reached out to the University of Nebraska Extension for assistance. Through their Serviceship program, they assisted Brownville in the flood recovery planning process.

But the town’s efforts didn’t stop there. With a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, they were able to hire consultant Lamp Rynearson to take the next step. A revitalization plan for the riverfront area around the Captain Meriwether Lewis dredge.

“Activate the Riverfront” calls for the full redevelopment of the riverfront southeast of downtown Brownville into an amenity for residents and visitors alike. The plan calls for additional parking, trails, event lawn and open space, play areas, shelters, an art garden, and an amphitheater. A visitor center along the highway, between the riverfront area and downtown Brownville, would connect the two areas in a cohesive manner. It’s a bold plan for this small town of 140 residents. But as famous planner Daniel Burnham once stated, “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”

Brownville Riverfront Revitalization Plan – Final Concept; Courtesy Lamp Rynearson

In fact, Brownville is no stranger to planning efforts. In addition to Activate the Riverfront and the aforementioned UNL Serviceship planning assistance completed the following planning documents:

• Brownville – Where the West Began: A vision for Rejuvenating a Historic Village (1994)
• Brownville Historic Downtown Streetscape Project (1997)
• Brownville Comprehensive Plan (2004)
• Rehabilitation Study for the Captain Meriwether Lewis (2007)

An Active Downtown

However, the center of the town’s activity is not related to the Captain Meriwether Lewis Dredge. In fact, the dredge was not originally a welcome gift to some. The side-wheel steam paddle dredge was operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help make sure that the Missouri River remained a navigatable waterway for commerce. In 1976 it was gifted to the Nebraska State Historical Society, who dry-berthed it outside of Brownville a year later.

Captain Meriwether Lewis Dredge Museum, 2020

The central draw to the community is actually in Brownville’s historic downtown. Walking in downtown Brownville you are taken back in time. Unlike other communities where downtown buildings have been “updated” over the years with stucco or metal cladding, the Brownville buildings have retained their historic charm. Many of the buildings are actually set up as stops in the historic museum that is downtown Brownville. Each building tells a different part of the history of Brownville, for Nebraska, for the Midwest as a whole.

But it is not just a town focused on history. Brownville is a center for the arts. They have an active opera house. There’s also the annual Brownville Concert Series. A village theater puts on active performances throughout the year. There’s even a folk art museum in a former church.

But the key event in Brownville happens twice a year. This small town is host to the largest flea market in Nebraska. In total, over 200 vendors participate in the fall flea market. With an astonishing 300 vendors participating in the spring flea market.

Brownville’s Fall Flea Market

Let’s take a minute to consider all of that in conjunction with one critical key fact: Brownville is home to 140 residents. Let that sink in for a bit….

Brownville Bucket List, Courtesy – Nebraska Tourism Commission

Not Satisfied with the Status Quo

However, the residents are not satisfied with the status quo. They know there’s more potential for their community. This brings us back to the riverfront.

With the revitalization of the riverfront, the portfolio of activities that the community can offer visitors grows even more. Along one stretch of road visitors would be able to stop at a winery, a series of museums, a theater (one block off Main St.), jump on a trail, take in a concert, explore a historical dredge, and take in the majestic Missouri River.

But the planners and residents alike understand that flooding is likely in their future. The community has witnessed flooding 33 times since the 1950s. The Missouri River has flooded nine times in the past 11 years alone. But there is an undying spirit of resilience in this town. The Activate the Riverfront plan calls for additional measures to ensure their reinvestment in the riverfront makes sense. The plan calls for additional berming in select areas, flood-resilient furniture, and a better selection of vegetation in the riverfront areas that are more flood resilient.

Brownville Riverfront Revitalization Plan Rendering; Courtesy – Lamp Rynearson

Partnering Up For Success

The improvements won’t come cheap though. There is a hefty price tag tied to such a transformational plan. Lamp Rynearson estimated the total cost for the improvements at a little over $6.9 million.

However, Lamp Rynearson and representatives for Brownville have had discussions with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) on a variety of funding streams to help pay for the improvements.

The plan lists a number of funding sources to assist in the effort. It is a good addition to the end of the plan document. Many conceptual plans only list possible organizations to seek funding from, or nothing at all. But the Brownville Riverfront Revitalization Master Plan lists specific grants for community representatives to chase after.