The City of Council Bluffs announces its first podcast titled, "On First." Listeners can tune in to learn more about what's happening along 1st Avenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa. City of Council Bluffs Communications Officer Ashley Kruse and Community Development Director Brandon Garrett co-host the podcast. Ashley and Brandon explore the transformative project and share everything from the specific details to the future's big picture vision.
First Avenue, a former railroad corridor, is a 66' wide right-of-way stretching from I-29 in the west to Indian Creek in the east. It is one block south of West Broadway and represents an opportunity to link downtown Council Bluffs with downtown Omaha and all points in between.
"The First Avenue corridor has the potential to be a transformative project for Council Bluffs," said Garrett. "With a multi-use trail as a spine connecting the Bob Kerrey Bridge with downtown Council Bluffs, the stage is being set for new development centered on a variety of quality of life improvements."
Roughly 30% of Council Bluffs residents live within a half-mile of First Avenue. The corridor is lined with businesses along West Broadway, destinations such as Thomas Jefferson High School and Cochran Park, and numerous mixed-use and multi-family residential redevelopment opportunities.
Starting with First Avenue's history, the "On First" podcast zooms in on the entire project. Guests are invited to each episode so listeners can hear directly from the experts and stakeholders. Throughout the episodes, Ashley, Brandon, and their guests will divulge plans for trails, transit, and redevelopment. Tune in to find out who's "On First" with Ashley and Brandon.
"We created the podcast as a fun and easy way for people to learn more about the First Avenue corridor," said Kruse. "First Ave is a huge project, and while all of the project information is available on our website (FirstAveCB.com), it can feel overwhelming and intimidating. The series of 20-minute podcast episodes make it more consumable."
Three 'On First' podcast episodes are currently available. The duration of each episode will run approximately 15-20 minutes. New episodes can be expected every two weeks. Listeners can find "On FIRST" on the City's website at OnFirstCB.com, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.
"Listeners will learn about all the opportunities that the former rail line presents," Kruse said. "We don't use professional podcasting equipment, and we aren't highly-trained podcast hosts, but we promise the content is worthy."
This blog originated as a latest news post on the City of Council Bluffs’ website.
