River's Edge Development (Playland Park)

[Omahayngin]

great pics! thanks!

[BIGO88]

Im not sure if its been mentioned yet but they are also building a new Stem Innovation high school here.

https://www.cb-schools.org/schools1/ste ... igh-school

Looks like the City Council passed on selling the land to the school district? So it looks like there back looking for other locations.

[Omahayngin]

dang that sucks, would be an awesome place for it imo and bring lots of people to the area, i wonder why

[Garrett]

Between this and the streetcar cancellation, the new mayor of CB is really looking lame

[InTheRoom]

All signs are pointing to the new mayor being staunchly anti-riverfront development. Even moreso than anticipated. I'm not exaggerating when I say she could almost single-handedly set the east side of the river back by a decade.

[EastCB]

She's a mess!! Yesterday was the ribbon cutting for the new Kia dealership in Council Bluffs and she was late. She was quoted in the Nonpareil that she was looking at cars on the lot.

[skinzfan23]

She's a mess!! Yesterday was the ribbon cutting for the new Kia dealership in Council Bluffs and she was late. She was quoted in the Nonpareil that she was looking at cars on the lot.

Makes you wonder if she was actually the right person for the job or the residents just wanted a change at the top and were hoping they would get someone decent. But all my reports of her haven't been great either.

[Brad]

Council Bluffs to Purchase Land for River’s Edge Playground
Mar 30, 2026

The Council Bluffs City Council approved a land purchase from the Iowa Department of Roads to build a destination playground near River’s Edge. The site is south of the Interstate 480 overpass, just west of the River Park by Broadmoor apartment complex. Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact will pay the $70,000 price tag. The property will be owned by the city. Broadmoor will donate the remaining needed land. It’s part of River’s Edge phase V, which also includes a dog park and a plaza highlighting donor contributions

[Brad]

Post 1 of 2.

Jeff Beals and I toured both the MidAmerican Adventure Tower (North of the Pedestrian Bridge) and The Pier (South of 480). Both are way better feeling than they look and both are going to be Great additions to the riverfront. The Roller Glider should start going up this week on the MidAmerican Adventure Tower is going to be super cool. Both will be open in June. They have a date in mind but are not confirming it yet.

Adventure Tower:
First floor = Ground Level (Not sure about public access)
Second Floor = Concession Stand, Restrooms, Elevators, and the floors the treetop walk ties in to
Third Floor = "Caving Experience" (Entered from 4th Floor)
Fourth Floor = Base of Climbing Wall, Unloading for Roller Glide, Entrance to Cave.
Floors Five through Eight = Stairs
Ninth Floor = Loading for the Roller Glide
Tenth Floor = Observation Deck


I'm going to split the photos in to two posts. This first post will be all the Adventure Tower Photos.


1. One of the supports for the Roller Gliding

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2. Looking towards the treetop walk

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3. Loading for the Roller Glide in the white painted steel area.

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4. Looking down towards the treetop walk

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5. Looking down towards the treetop walk

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6. View towards Omaha

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7. View towards Riverfront Place

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8. Looking straight down

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9. Loading are for the south Roller Glide

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10. Loading are for the north Roller Glide

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11. Looking from the Roller Glide loading area down to the unloading area.

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12. South side of the climbing wall. Jeff posed for scale.

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[Brad]

Post 2 of 2.

Jeff Beals and I toured both the MidAmerican Adventure Tower (North of the Pedestrian Bridge) and The Pier (South of 480). Both are way better feeling than they look and both are going to be Great additions to the riverfront. The Roller Glider should start going up this week on the MidAmerican Adventure Tower is going to be super cool. Both will be open in June. They have a date in mind but are not confirming it yet.

I'm going to split the photos in to two posts. This second post will be all "The Pier" photos.

13. Under the pier looking towards Omaha.

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14. Looking East towards a seating area.

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15. View of Omaha from the river end of the pier.

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16. The river end of the pier

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17. Another view of a seating area

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18. Along the walkway

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19.

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21.

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22.

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23. Looking east towards the levee end of the pier

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24.

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25. Looking West

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26. Looking East

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.

[skinzfan23]

Great photos. Is that observation deck going to be open to the public or is there a fee to access it?

[Brad]

Great photos. Is that observation deck going to be open to the public or is there a fee to access it?

Yes, the plan for now is that it will be open and free 24/7. That could change if problems start to happen.

The ride/wall/cave will cost money.

[skinzfan23]

That is awesome, if they light it up well hopefully that deters people from messing around. For the most part the pedestrian bridge has been great with it. I know there were talks initially that it might close sometimes for weather and what not but I think it’s open all the time.

[WiinterU]

I was waiting for photos that showed the current state of the tower. Thank you.

[iamjacobm]

Thanks for the updates Brad! They had a crew out working on a Sunday so they are pushing for their opening goal which I would assume is the CWS.

[Brad]

Thanks for the updates Brad! They had a crew out working on a Sunday so they are pushing for their opening goal which I would assume is the CWS.

You're welcome. Any of the track installed yet?

[iamjacobm]

Thanks for the updates Brad! They had a crew out working on a Sunday so they are pushing for their opening goal which I would assume is the CWS.

You're welcome. Any of the track installed yet?

Looked like the metal supports for the track were going up but not the track itself yet.

[windsor]

This project is awesome and it seems to have flown under the radar of most people living in the Omaha Metro. Can't wait for it to open.

[skinzfan23]

If you look closely you can see the support for the track on the Wowt citycam:

[Brad]

One from last night:

1.

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.

[skinzfan23]

On Saturday night, I think the tower on the north of 480 was lit up.

[Brad]

On Saturday night, I think the tower on the north of 480 was lit up.

It was last night as well. I meant to go back for a photo after shooting the Heartland of America Park photos but spaced it off.

[skinzfan23]

Some updates from Lueder Constructiom Facebook page:

[thenewguy]

that thing is going to be absolutely awesome

[omahahawk]

I read online a week or so ago (wowt I believe) that the "tentative" plan was to open by July 4. Curious as to how this might work routinely as this tower appears that it will be necessary to have some staffing to be fully in use, people to set up riders on the roller glide, anchor the climbing wall etc. For me it will primarily just be a place to get some good stair exercise and enjoy a good view. The other aspects are fantastic but I wonder what the plan will be to have them available on a regular basis.

[Brad]

Yes there will be a staff. When we did a Grow Omaha tour a few months back the tentative plan was the tower itself would be open 24/7 unless problems started happening. The climbing wall, cave, and the roller glide would have set specific hours. Also, the tower was free, but the roller glide, cave, and the climbing wall will all cost money.

[BIGO88]

Showing some test runs of the new glider ride.

[skinzfan23]

Thanks for posting, looks like special pricing of $15 for now normally $23.

[Stargazer]

Haven't been down lately, is this open finally?

[Renovator2559]

Does anyone know when the ribbon cutting for opening is scheduled?

[orangeboots]

Not for sure but I think the city is holding it up. It has something to do with the endowment for maintenance.

[omahahawk]

The ribbon cutting happened a couple of months ago. I assumed it wasn't open yet because more testing had to be done, people had to be hired and trained etc. but you would think stuff like a maintenance fund would have been figured out prior to having a ribbon cutting ceremony. Hopefully it's not much longer.

[thenewguy]

looks very cool! I wonder if they will have a season pass of some type.

[Brad]

Photos from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation Pier tonight.

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10.

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[thenewguy]

that last one is my favorite. The lighting and coloration look great

[Garrett]

Absolutely gorgeous location, and a great spot to get all three towers! Wonderful work as usual Brad.

[Louie]

From that angle MoO looks so damn big.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

That turned out really nice!

I feel like the region has been adding a number of great of urban view points lately and I love it.

[Garrett]

That turned out really nice!

I feel like the region has been adding a number of great of urban view points lately and I love it.

I've been thinking about getting a skyline print from Brad once the new Mutual tower is fully complete and it's gonna be hard to pick an angle!

[BIGO88]

They Announced that the Adventure Tower/TreeTop Walk will be opening Sept 19th.