Heartland of America Park

Post by **Brad** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:15 pm

Tomorrow 11/15 is the last day for roller skates on the skating ribbon. After tomorrow it will be converted to ice!

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:06 pm

Brad wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:15 pm Tomorrow 11/15 is the last day for roller skates on the skating ribbon. After tomorrow it will be converted to ice!

is the conversion set to happen immediately after tomorrow, or will there be a gap because of the warm temps?

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:18 pm

Does anyone know why the Conagra staff on their side is more hands off with their maintenance? On top of them closing their side of the park and sometimes forgetting to open the gates.

The sidewalks are littered with duck and goose poop, is power washing the sidewalks a difficult thing to do?

It's almost as if the geese have flown too much to San Francisco and seen the San Franciscan sidewalks!

By the way, I saw contractors replacing the side barriers yesterday in the rink, so ice skating it is

Post by **Brad** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:41 pm

thenewguy wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:06 pm
Brad wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:15 pm Tomorrow 11/15 is the last day for roller skates on the skating ribbon. After tomorrow it will be converted to ice!
is the conversion set to happen immediately after tomorrow, or will there be a gap because of the warm temps?

It just says "the official opening date for ice skating will be posted soon"

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 10:01 pm

A few nights ago I went with a friend and we parked on the south side of The Great Wall of Brickline. Why is there still a gate separating the park from connecting to the Old Market on the trail? We had to climb along it over the water to get in. If we’re going to put up a massive wall of luxury apartments why are we closing the trail around them?

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 10:23 pm

I don't get it either, a month or so ago, I thought they were in the process of removing the east fence, but then I noticed they were just reinforcing the fence and installing what appears to be a motorized gate opener.

There have been many times when the gate is closed, even though it's early.

The signs of no bicycles or skate boards on the Conagra side are archaic and inconsistent with the HoA side.

On top of that you have to run and walk as if you are playing hopscotch because of all the duck poop that only gives 10-15in of poop free surface area. You never see any Conagra maintenance staff.

Going into the Conagra side feels as if you are not welcome there because of all the fencing.

OracleOfOmaha · Post by **OracleOfOmaha** » Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:45 am

Was in town last weekend and was able to visit the parks downtown for the first time. Blew me away.

But to echo others thoughts in this thread, I am so disappointed Brickline didn't add more ground level retail, especially on the north and east sides of the building. Such a sad waste of potential.

Also, why the heck did they not add height to the eastern half of that building. Those views and the access to the park, a 12 story building on that half of the block would be rented out in no time.

A lot of missed potential with that development, but this park was awesome and all the talk about how great this park is, is very much warranted.

OmahaRedWing · Post by **OmahaRedWing** » Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:38 am

Anyone have a ballpark idea on when the skating ribbon will reopen with ice?

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:45 am

OmahaRedWing wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:38 am Anyone have a ballpark idea on when the skating ribbon will reopen with ice?

Read up a few posts.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:33 am

The story from the OWH mentions that the park is going to have a 70-ft Christmas tree this year. It states the the tree last year was about 35ft tall.

I wonder if they are still going to have the tree in the Gene Leahy Mall area as well.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:20 pm

Cool, just 10 feet shy of the one at 30 Rock this year per USA Today.

The Rockefeller Center has chosen its Christmas tree for the 2023 holiday season. This year's tree is an 80-foot tall Norway Spruce from Vestal, New York, the Rockefeller Center announced on its website.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:22 pm

omahahawk wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:20 pm Cool, just 10 feet shy of the one at 30 Rock this year per USA Today.

The Rockefeller Center has chosen its Christmas tree for the 2023 holiday season. This year's tree is an 80-foot tall Norway Spruce from Vestal, New York, the Rockefeller Center announced on its website.

Missed opportunity to be OmaHawk

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sun Nov 19, 2023 9:19 pm

Meanwhile, the tree inside the Durham is awesome as usual.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Nov 20, 2023 2:55 am

I don't think the ceiling is much more than 60 feet.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:23 am

skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:33 am The story from the OWH mentions that the park is going to have a 70-ft Christmas tree this year. It states the the tree last year was about 35ft tall.

I wonder if they are still going to have the tree in the Gene Leahy Mall area as well.

that will be awesome. And there will be some killer photo opportunities with it

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:57 am

Cool event for the ice skating ribbon opening tomorrow night:

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:31 pm

Inaugural ice skating season to kick off at Omaha’s RiverFront

In just about 12 weeks, the new skate ribbon at the Omaha Riverfront saw 29,000 people lace up their rollerblades. Now, the Riverfront is preparing for the masses as they open the ribbon to ice skating on Wednesday evening. The local ice skating community is buzzing about the opening.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Nov 27, 2023 7:42 am

so did anyone make it down there for the opening?

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:02 am

We made it down to the opening. It was pretty crowded near the stage and lots of people enjoying the skating rink and fires going around the park. Didn't make it down to the Illuminarium to see if anyone was down at that part, but kids were enjoying the rest of the park quite a lot. It did start clearing out around 730-8, but I was still impressed by how many people came out.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:23 pm

Is the first national building not changing the building to green for the holidays this year? Pretty sure they have every year they have done the lights downtown.

JDJase · Post by **JDJase** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:48 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:23 pm Is the first national building not changing the building to green for the holidays this year? Pretty sure they have every year they have done the lights downtown.

It was green as of last night. It usually changes the same night as the lighting ceremonies in the park over Thanksgiving but seems they got a late start this year.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:54 pm

JDJase wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:48 pm
skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:23 pm Is the first national building not changing the building to green for the holidays this year? Pretty sure they have every year they have done the lights downtown.
It was green as of last night. It usually changes the same night as the lighting ceremonies in the park over Thanksgiving but seems they got a late start this year.

Thanks, I knew it wasn't on Sunday night and couldn't tell on the city cam last night, so I thought, maybe they weren't going to light it up.

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:04 pm

The did a good job in clearing the snow off the sidewalks in the Riverfront, despite the cold weather; I see people enjoying and taking a stroll in the park.
Of course the foot traffic is not as much as in the Summer but there's plenty of people enjoying the wonders of the winter weather.

FNBO tower has that nice foggy appearance and the winter wonderland looks gorgeous!

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:18 am

Renovator2559 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:04 pm The did a good job in clearing the snow off the sidewalks in the Riverfront, despite the cold weather; I see people enjoying and taking a stroll in the park.
Of course the foot traffic is not as much as in the Summer but there's plenty of people enjoying the wonders of the winter weather.

FNBO tower has that nice foggy appearance and the winter wonderland looks gorgeous!

that's a good picture. I've always liked when first national has clouds/fog around the top; it reminds me of Gotham

GrowUpFrances · Post by **GrowUpFrances** » Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:25 am

Question: is there anything that can be done to "beautify" the train lines that run through HOA?

Was just looking at a video of the park again and it is just such an eyesore compared to the beautifully landscaped parks around it. I was a big fan of the cap idea when initial renderings of the parks came out years ago, but obviously, that didn't come to fruition.

Can UP/BNSF do something — has that sort of thing ever been done around tracks?

legato9 · Post by **legato9** » Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:18 pm

GrowUpFrances wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:25 am Question: is there anything that can be done to "beautify" the train lines that run through HOA?

Was just looking at a video of the park again and it is just such an eyesore compared to the beautifully landscaped parks around it. I was a big fan of the cap idea when initial renderings of the parks came out years ago, but obviously, that didn't come to fruition.

Can UP/BNSF do something — has that sort of thing ever been done around tracks?

I so agree. I was really excited for the pier. I went out there as soon as it opened. It was such a massive bummer to see how ugly the view was. I haven’t been back since.

Why in God’s name would Omaha allow its one and only pretty geographical feature to be blocked off by concrete walls, weeds, and railroad tracks? So, so disappointing. I really hope someone can change it.

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:43 pm

GrowUpFrances wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:25 am Question: is there anything that can be done to "beautify" the train lines that run through HOA?

Was just looking at a video of the park again and it is just such an eyesore compared to the beautifully landscaped parks around it. I was a big fan of the cap idea when initial renderings of the parks came out years ago, but obviously, that didn't come to fruition.

Can UP/BNSF do something — has that sort of thing ever been done around tracks?

They could start detailing trains maybe, add some scenery that way and a possible oil spill

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 1:03 am

I like the railroad track, it's local Omaha heritage ei the train. I visit the pier constantly, such a nice view and don't see the need to remove the train.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 2:18 am

Not going to happen, but getting those tracks removed would spur a huge amount of development along the river and truly get us back to the riverfront.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:17 am

Renovator2559 wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 1:03 am I like the railroad track, it's local Omaha heritage ei the train. I visit the pier constantly, such a nice view and don't see the need to remove the train.

While all the original tracks are gone and everything has been reconfigured over the past 188 yeas, the first transcontinental railroad started very close to Heartland of America Park back in 1863...

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:28 am

EricHaley wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 2:18 am Not going to happen, but getting those tracks removed would spur a huge amount of development along the river and truly get us back to the riverfront.

I agree 100%.

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:09 pm

How is removing the train bound to increase commerce options on the Heartland of America?
Removing those tracks would have been very expensive to remove and the park would have had to take a cut in other areas when under construction; unless the private donors increased the amount of funding yes but other than that; its just an expensive tunnel.

One of my favorite pictures of Omaha, is the picture by Brad from the Riverfront, that captured a union pacific train conveniently stopped for the picture. The nice concrete train enclosure looks nice as a feature for kids to point at and admire a big loud train.

You can't please everyone, there will always be dissenting opinions on things like this; despite people like me who regularly visit the park and I see no reason to create a costly renovation that is better suited elsewhere.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:37 pm

Renovator2559 wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:09 pm How is removing the train bound to increase commerce options on the Heartland of America?
Removing those tracks would have been very expensive to remove and the park would have had to take a cut in other areas when under construction; unless the private donors increased the amount of funding yes but other than that; its just an expensive tunnel.

One of my favorite pictures of Omaha, is the picture by Brad from the Riverfront, that captured a union pacific train conveniently stopped for the picture. The nice concrete train enclosure looks nice as a feature for kids to point at and admire a big loud train.

You can't please everyone, there will always be dissenting opinions on things like this; despite people like me who regularly visit the park and I see no reason to create a costly renovation that is better suited elsewhere.

Who said anything about the park. I was thinking land further south.

OmahaOmaha · Post by **OmahaOmaha** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 7:54 am

I love the tracks. My only wish is that there were more trains to watch. I do understand why some see it as an eyesore. It doesn’t help that graffiti artist use the rail cars as their canvas.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 7:58 am

OmahaOmaha wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 7:54 am I love the tracks. My only wish is that there were more trains to watch. I do understand why some see it as an eyesore. It doesn’t help that graffiti artist use the rail cars as their canvas.

I don’t think it’s necessarily an eyesore. It’s just in a location that could be much more desirable without it.

GrowUpFrances · Post by **GrowUpFrances** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 9:44 am

EricHaley wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 2:18 am Not going to happen, but getting those tracks removed would spur a huge amount of development along the river and truly get us back to the riverfront.

Agree!

What if the current railroad line could become a walk/bikeway, along the lines of the Minneapolis Greenway or the 606 in Chicago? Or something even cooler than both of those.

Imagine how this could connect SoMa to Millwork, drive more patronage to the parks, and create commercial and residential opportunities from Little Italy through Lot D and beyond.

I know it’s not as simple as just re-routing lines. But I believe the location of this particular train line limits the potential of all of the money spent on the parks/development up to this point as well as future opportunities.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:03 am

I wouldn't hold my breathe on the rail lines being re-routed. One thing to keep in mind is if C.B. is able to green light the streetcar extension the a new bridge would likely go somewhere in this area. One rendering showed a new bridge just south of 480. That would likely mean the existing pedestrian bridge linking Heartland and Lewis & Clark would have to be removed. A new pedestrian route would have to be worked out perhaps integrated with a new streetcar bridge. Under this scenario perhaps a revised incarnation of the former Grand Lawn idea could considered here. The new parks were not designed with a streetcar running through Heartland Park so some concessions to the existing design would have to be made.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:06 am

nebport5 wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:03 am I wouldn't hold my breathe on the rail lines being re-routed. One thing to keep in mind is if C.B. is able to green light the streetcar extension the a new bridge would likely go somewhere in this area. One rendering showed a new bridge just south of 480. That would likely mean the existing pedestrian bridge linking Heartland and Lewis & Clark would have to be removed. A new pedestrian route would have to be worked out perhaps integrated with a new streetcar bridge. Under this scenario perhaps a revised incarnation of the former Grand Lawn idea could considered here. The new parks were not designed with a streetcar running through Heartland Park so some concessions to the existing design would have to be made.

Ok, so its a bit ambiguous in the rendering you referred to.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:11 am

Just saw a post on Facebook, that for the ice skating season (which started Nov 22nd)they had 48,000 skaters. From Christmas day to New Year's Day, they had over 11,500 skaters for the week.

Those are some impressive numbers. (I am not sure but guessing this is just the number of skaters, so the number of people down there was probably higher)

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:28 am

skinzfan23 wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:11 am Just saw a post on Facebook, that for the ice skating season (which started Nov 22nd)they had 48,000 skaters. From Christmas day to New Year's Day, they had over 11,500 skaters for the week.

Those are some impressive numbers. (I am not sure but guessing this is just the number of skaters, so the number of people down there was probably higher)

The times I was down there, it was always rather busy. Even on colder nights.