Heartland of America Park

[nebport5]

I guess everyone already knew this, I don't stop by enough.. I'm terribly depressed that they cut out the portion of the project covering the rail line.

Ok what exactly got cut? They're still doing the sexy pier? Old rendering?

They were going to put the railroad tracks in a tunnel and have a green lawn over the top of it. The pier just started construction, not sure how "sexy" it is?

Here's an old presentation of HAP. Also, something that got cut...water taxis? What!? I totally forgot about it.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnew ... 21.pdf.pdf

Thanks. I'm not sure from these renderings there's too much mourn.

[Taco]

Was the "connection to south riverfront trail" cut as well?

[GrowUpFrances]

Yes it seems the entire "Riverfront Promenade" has been cut, unfortunately.

[Athomsfere]

Another preview of the skate ribbon:
https://www.wowt.com/2022/01/18/heartla ... iverfront/

[Brad]

From the most recent newsletter about the pier:

Once those steps are complete, installing the physical pier will require the largest crane to ever be used in downtown Omaha.

Jeff Beals and I were eating Breakfast at Lula B's this morning before we did Grow Omaha. Around 8am, red 6 flat bed 18 wheelers came down the ramp from 480 and turned north on 10th street carrying parts and pieces of a very large red crane. I don't know it the crane was the one mentioned in this thread or something else. Just one tank tread for the crane was so big, it took up its own flat bed. I don't believe it was all the pieces because I never saw the other tank tread and I didn't look like much of the boom was with it either. We had to get to the radio station so I never circled down to 8th street to see if I could see it.

[Busguy2010]

That's saying something as there was that crane that lifted the AC units to the top of the OWH/CenturyLink building. Any details of what kind of crane it is, and when and how long it'll be erect are appreciated. I'm a big fan of large engineering and would love to see it.

[GetUrban]

I hope someone will set-up a time-lapse of the crane assembly and use! That would be fun to watch! It seems almost certain they will.

[Brad]

March Newsletter:

https://preview.mailerlite.com/l0f7o1h2 ... 3304/k2k8/

Heartland of America Park
Heartland of America Park will also start to look a little greener next month. The first trees have been planted with even more going in soon. Pile will be driven for a large flagpole that will anchor the east end of the park. The earthen berm across Conagra Lake will be removed allowing water to flow to its newly formed edge. Walls for the Skate Kiosk/public restrooms will start rising from the ground. Some flatwork will also begin in April

[ita]

The Farnam Pier's Journey to The RiverFront

With the grand opening of Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront just weeks away, both Heartland of America Park and Lewis & Clark Landing are preparing for continued construction efforts – with numerous amenity installations slated for this summer. Occasionally the advanced foundational process for this work is simple, but other times it requires over 40 truckloads of equipment and operation of the largest crane that has ever been used in downtown Omaha.

It will take a crane of significant stature to build the iconic Farnam Pier, which will assuredly be a popular destination within Heartland of America Park. Next month, those 40 truckloads of individual crane pieces will make their way down to the jobsite where this massive machine must be assembled on site. Once each component has arrived, it’ll take approximately two weeks to construct the crane, from the ground up.

After the crane takes shape, the Farnam Pier’s physical structure will begin its journey to Nebraska. To deliver the Pier, three oversized truckloads, ranging up to 28 feet wide and up to 103 feet long, will be escorted all the way from Houston, Texas to downtown Omaha just before Memorial Day. Upon delivery, each element will be carefully unloaded and The RiverFront project team will focus on assembly. After the three oversized sections are bolted together, half of the ribs that overarch the pier will need to be installed on the base framework, then the crane will fly the 204 foot, 250,000 pound Farnam Pier into place along the Missouri River in mid-June.

Although these next steps will take approximately two months, work on the Farnam Pier has been underway for over a year. Since construction started in Heartland of America Park, a drilled shaft has been completed on the riverside of the flood wall (in proximity to the railroad tracks) that will support the Pier. On the park side, an abutment (or bridge end) has also been finalized. Along with these key infrastructure efforts, The RiverFront construction team has also been preparing to receive the Pier by grading the jobsite, placing crane pads and staging necessary elements that will aid in installation.

After the Farnam Pier is firmly implanted, next immediate steps will prioritize the detailed elements of this impressive amenity. This will include addition of electrical and lighting components, seating elements, stairs and ramps, and painting the structure. When finished, the Farnam Pier will become a landmark within Heartland of America Park, providing a physical connection to the Missouri River, ample space for seating, color changing lights, and of course, beautiful views!

Really interesting and detailed report on how they will install the pier. The crane is going to be massive!

[skinzfan23]

Wow, that all sounds amazing, we should have someone get some pics of it once they begin with the big crane.

[Brad]

Wow, that all sounds amazing, we should have someone get some pics of it once they begin with the big crane.

I'm hoping to go up in the helicopter sooner than later.

[Coyote]

Wow, that all sounds amazing, we should have someone get some pics of it once they begin with the big crane.

I'm hoping to go up in the helicopter sooner than later.

I hope view your photos soon.

[ItsAllAboutMe]

The walking trail around the lake located on ConAgra property has been completely repaved and widened. The trial was previously done with brick pavers. Should be a big improvement.

[Brad]

The big crane has arrived to build the Farnam pier!

[Brad]

Couple photos of the crane

[ItsAllAboutMe]

The first section of the Farnam Pier arrived this morning

[stadsborgare]

They're doing a lot of work on the skating rink, and I suspect that little building on the east end of the rink is where one would get the skate rentals, and/or concessions.

[Omaha Cowboy]

They're doing a lot of work on the skating rink, and I suspect that little building on the east end of the rink is where one would get the skate rentals, and/or concessions.

Making quite a bit of progress.

Thanks for the pic update …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[the1wags]

Apologies in advance if this looks terrible, it's a screen capture from a lower res preview view on my phone from my drone. If that made sense.

[the1wags]

One more

[Athomsfere]

That's the skate ribbon, it appears. I'm stoked for that!

[Omaha Cowboy]

Apologies in advance if this looks terrible, it's a screen capture from a lower res preview view on my phone from my drone. If that made sense.

Looks great to me..

Thanks for the pic updates Josh …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Coyote]

Overhaul of Omaha's riverfront parks continues as key features take shape

As the Gene Leahy Mall again breathes life into downtown Omaha, an outline of what’s to come for the city’s two remaining downtown parks is beginning to take shape. Visitors to the newly opened Gene Leahy Mall can stand on the eastern edge of the park — past the children playing, the downtown workers typing away on laptops and ducks splashing in the mall pond — and watch as construction on Heartland of America Park continues to expand toward the Missouri River. With a glance toward the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, visitors can see that work also is underway on the northernmost component of the riverfront, Lewis & Clark Landing. The construction sites are part of a public-private overhaul of Omaha’s downtown parks.



Work continues Monday on the Omaha riverfront. The City of Omaha will contribute another $10 million to the RiverFront project.
Z LONG, THE WORLD-HERALD

In addition to the city’s $50 million contribution to the $400 million, three-park project collectively called The RiverFront, another $10 million from the city likely will be used to expand a trail system along the riverfront. The Leahy Mall reopened last month with accolades and excitement after a more than three-year overhaul. Heartland Park and Lewis & Clark Landing are on track to reopen in the summer of 2023. Even with a year to go, key features of both parks are beginning to take shape. In Heartland of America Park, decorative concrete, similar to the sidewalks in the Gene Leahy Mall, is being installed. The park’s first shade structure has been built, and concrete walls for the skate ribbon have been poured, said Kristyna Engdahl, a spokeswoman with the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, which manages The RiverFront project.

The skate ribbon will be about the length of a football field and will offer ice skating in the winter and roller blading in the summer. Crews continue to work on a maintenance building that will house an ice resurfacer and chillers that will keep the ice cold enough to skate on. The park also will feature a lakeside amphitheater, bocce courts and Farnam Pier, which will stretch over the Missouri River. “It’s starting to come together and is looking more like a park every day, which is exciting,” Engdahl said. At Lewis & Clark Landing, foundations have been set for planters, shade canopies and an urban beach. A restroom structure has gone up and construction crews hope to see some of the park’s play structures arrive in coming weeks.



Work is in progress on several future additions to the Omaha riverfront, including a new pedestrian bridge and skate ribbon.
Z LONG, THE WORLD-HERALD

Also in the works is a $101 million riverfront science center funded by philanthropists called the Kiewit Luminarium. The museum structure is expected to be completed in September, with exhibits to be installed over the following six months. Among the attractions of the new center will be a “geometric climber,” in which visitors will be able to learn about the art and symmetry of geometry by walking and climbing through a two-story exhibit. Another two-story exhibit space will be devoted to the science of materials. Visitors will explore the weight, strength and other qualities of materials used for construction and other purposes.

If all goes as planned, the state-of-the-art science center will be open to the public in April.

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Looking forward the return of the big fountain. One kind of forgets about it with all the construction and new additions with the Riverfront. I think it would pretty neat to have an apartment at the Brickline over looking the fountain.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Looking forward the return of the big fountain. One kind of forgets about it with all the construction and new additions with the Riverfront. I think it would pretty neat to have an apartment at the Brickline over looking the fountain.

Completely agree …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[ita]

Looking forward the return of the big fountain. One kind of forgets about it with all the construction and new additions with the Riverfront. I think it would pretty neat to have an apartment at the Brickline over looking the fountain.

Completely agree …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I think it would pretty neat to have an apartment on the 25th floor of the future mixed use tower over looking the fountain.

Fixed it for you

[Omaha Cowboy]

Looking forward the return of the big fountain. One kind of forgets about it with all the construction and new additions with the Riverfront. I think it would pretty neat to have an apartment at the Brickline over looking the fountain.

Completely agree …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I think it would pretty neat to have an apartment on the 25th floor of the future mixed use tower over looking the fountain.

Fixed it for you

I’d certainly be a fan if that rumor became reality …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[stadsborgare]

They've planted trees by the skate ribbon.

[nativeomahan]

I noticed that yesterday. Autumn is the best time of year for tree planting.

[ita]

Those are pretty big trees for planting. Looking at the camera updates, they look bigger than the trees at the eastern end of the GLM.

[ItsAllAboutMe]

They appear to be building foundations for some type of installation in the plaza area near the street and just north of the skate rental building. Though not shown on the renderings or mentioned I believe it will be another large scale art piece(s). Maybe a Kaneko installation.

[skinzfan23]

Here are a couple of photo updates from the OWH:

[omahahawk]

Wow, the skate ribbon looks considerably bigger than I thought it would be from this view. Also, looks like it will actually give a pretty good workout on the uphill portion as well.

[bricknose]

Is there any risk to having too much park? I read that this development will be four times the size of Gene Leahy. I like the sense of activity at GH - it gives such a lively vibe. Will this cause the same number of people to be spread out to 1/5 density, or will it only attract more people in a “build it and they will come” sort of way?

[NEDodger]

Is there any risk to having too much park? I read that this development will be four times the size of Gene Leahy. I like the sense of activity at GH - it gives such a lively vibe. Will this cause the same number of people to be spread out to 1/5 density, or will it only attract more people in a “build it and they will come” sort of way?

The playground will be four times the size of the one at Gene Leahy, not the park itself.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Is there any risk to having too much park? I read that this development will be four times the size of Gene Leahy. I like the sense of activity at GH - it gives such a lively vibe. Will this cause the same number of people to be spread out to 1/5 density, or will it only attract more people in a “build it and they will come” sort of way?

That’s a tough question. They’re not really new parks per se, but redesigned parks. There may actually be slightly less park land when everything is done than before these projects started.

But will they create new demand? I think a fair amount, but it’s hard to know until they are actually open and operating for some time. The programming is better than the previous parks’ which creates demand. They should also help create demand for more downtown living which should cyclically create more park demand but again, you can never actually know the truth beforehand.

[almighty_tuna]

To Tito's point, it's the same (or slightly less) acreage that has always been there. However, it's being made more accessible and attractive while adding more housing units and amenities beyond a walking path and green space to sit. Time will tell whether it's a home run like GLM but, at the very least, denizens are getting a well appointed revamp of a once corporate backyard pond.

[Athomsfere]

Is there any risk to having too much park? I read that this development will be four times the size of Gene Leahy. I like the sense of activity at GH - it gives such a lively vibe. Will this cause the same number of people to be spread out to 1/5 density, or will it only attract more people in a “build it and they will come” sort of way?

I don't think at this scale, no. NYC has Central Park, and it's benefited the city without a doubt. And that's 843 acres, platted when NYC was smaller than Omaha is now.

[Louie]

I think I saw that the combination of all 3 (GLM, Heartland, and Lewis and Clark) is like 72 acres total.

[ricko]

Is there any risk to having too much park? I read that this development will be four times the size of Gene Leahy. I like the sense of activity at GH - it gives such a lively vibe. Will this cause the same number of people to be spread out to 1/5 density, or will it only attract more people in a “build it and they will come” sort of way?

Rock Creek Park, established in 1890, has over 2,000 acres, when Washington had a population of 230,000. I wouldn’t change a thing. Imagine being in a city and feeling like you’re in the wilderness.