Omaha Exploration

Located in the heart of downtown Omaha next to the Old Market is the oldest of Omaha’s RiverFront Parks – Gene Leahy Mall. Like Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing, it is a great place to spend some time when the weather is nice.

The park sits on land that was once full of historic buildings that over time began to deteriorate. This was during the 1970s at a time where historic preservation in Omaha was an afterthought. The idea of razing the structures to build an urban park was seen as the key to the revitalization of Omaha’s urban core.

As the land was cleared and the sunken park with its meandering lagoon were built, two buildings were saved – the Nash Block (present-day Greenhouse Apartments) and the Burlington Headquarters both of which have become prominent features of the park. Another key aspect of the revitalization effort was the construction of the W. Dale Clark Library which faced the mall to its east.

The park was closed in 2019 for a makeover that brought it up to street level and made it a much more usable space packed with features including climbing structures, splash area with waterfalls, a great lawn utilized for concerts or to throw a frisbee, fly a kite or play tag, dog parks, sculptures, pond and a remote controlled boat cove. Key features from the old park were retained including the twin metal slides and the arches from the U.S. National Bank building.

Once the weather warms up, the park also hosts a number of events including movie nights, concerts, yoga, dance classes and story time among others. It also has a few food trucks on site if you don’t want to wander over to the Old Market for a bite to eat.

Content written by Omaha Exploration. Feel free to leave a comment or a suggestion. Until then, keep exploring!

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