I don't know what to say aside from Omaha knows how to do a riverfront…read more Living in Kansas City our riverfront is really underdeveloped and I left here dreaming of what I wish could happen in my own hometown. This area boasts an urban beach, some really nice and fun swings and chairs, and what I would consider to be one of the best playgrounds I've taken my kids to. It feels safe, it's clean, and it's filled with families enjoying these free amenities to the city. My kids loved it and I left really impressed. Next time we are in Omaha with the kids this will be a must stop for us!

Stumbled upon here doing a self- led tour of Omaha. Nice space to think and soak in the sun. I…read morewould love to visit again and experience whatever else Omaha has to offer.

There are some nice exhibits and gardens here; however, more maintenance is needed for much of the…read moregrounds. We liked the monument stones which detail past U.S. Presidents, Nebraska governors, etc.; nevertheless, they need to be updated for recent elections. The gazebo exhibit includes several interesting displays of President and Betty Ford along with audio recordings.

This was near my hotel and it was pleasant garden to visit. It is well maintained and lookout for…read morewho's peeking through the bushes

NP Dodge park is sort of a hidden gem of a park. Tucked away near Hummel park it's vast green and…read moreit's location butted up to the Missouri river make it a versatile park for multiple uses. Since living in the area for the past few years I've visited several times for different reasons. The park is large enough to take a nice stroll and walk your dog, there's trails near by that you can begin in the park and keep exploring. There are several soccer fields and open spaces to let children play as well. I also like that this park has several different parking lots so finding a spot is easy. One of the things I was wondering was how security is and if the police drive through to make sure there's no issues going on. I hope so! The park is kept in great condition. It's clean, there are a few different restrooms and the people I've come across seem respectful. Most recently, my boyfriend and I did the Florence Days 5K that began at NP dodge park! It was such a fun run and great to see the community come out to this area of Omaha! There's so much history out here as well as natural beauty that's easy to miss with the hustle and bustle of daily life. If you have yet to trek down this area I highly suggest that you do. Especially in the morning, it's absolutely gorgeous!

(NOTE: The NP Dodge Park Pavilion is currently closed because of the riverfront flooding. I called…read morethe parks department and they said it may be reopened in the future, so I wanted to sing its praises for when it reopens!) We held our wedding reception at the NP Dodge Park Pavilion. It has a wood cabin ambiance that fit perfectly with our naturey/rustic theme, and the best part - it was HUGE. It easily accommodated our 100+ guests, tables, chairs, dance floor, Photo Booth, etc! The best part is that it's literally just the venue rental, which may sound weird to say that's the "best part" - but it means that you can use your own caterer and decor, and not have to get stuck with all the set vendors that so many venues only allow you to use. There is also a cute little pond outside, that was perfect for a few more formal group shots, during golden hour. They allow you to have beer and wine for your event with the license you get, but that was fine with the guests we had. There's also a whole kitchen and bar area that was perfect for our caterer's needs. If they do open up the Pavilion again in the future, and you're looking for a cost-effective and beautiful event space, definitely check it out!

It was by sheer luck (good or bad?) that we were able to come to Freedom Park. We had arrived in…read moreOmaha on a Sunday and was supposed to leave early the following Saturday, so would have missed out since the park only opens on Saturday from 10am-3pm. But as luck would have it, our return flight was cancelled and we were rebooked for Sunday, so that left us the whole day free to check out Freedom Park! You enter through Miller's Landing along the Missouri River and pass through a normally locked gate onto a gravel road. About a mile down, you will see a gray ship off to the right, so you realize this must be the place. The ship is a 530 ton minesweeper that served in WWII at the Battle of Okinawa named the USS Hazard. What's curious is that it is on land and behind it is also a submarine, the training sub, USS Marlin. Both are open for self-guided tours, but there are volunteer docents on board to answer your questions. One of the docents had opened the ship's armory and was showing samples of inert ammunition used by all the gun mounts from the 20mm Oerlikons and 40mm Bofors, all the way up to the 3" main cannon at the bow. It was interesting to see many of the compartments onboard have been restored to their original condition showing how life was during its WWII deployment. On the grounds of the park adjacent to the minesweeper are a lot of navy relics not related to the ship but collected over the years and have seen better days. There are missile launchers, larger guns and even 3 aircraft from the 50's-70's, an A-7 Corsair, A-4 Skyhawk and an HH-52 Coast Guard helicopter. Also interesting is the anchor garden and actual ship nameplates of some famous ships cut from their sterns when they were scrapped. All are in bad shape and disrepair. Funding is limited and only volunteers work here. Plus the Missouri River has flooded this area at least twice, causing a lot of damage and nearly floated the minesweeper away. If you do get a chance to visit the park, be respectful to the history and be generous in donating to keep these historic relics from disappearing. A huge thank you to the volunteers that run this place.

As a US Navy veteran I loved this little park. We tried to go a few years ago, but the area was…read moreflooded the majority of that year and the park was closed. This past week took us from the Des Moines IA metro to Lincoln NE...and then back and forth between Lincoln and Omaha several times. I'd almost forgotten about Freedom Park until one of my fellow travelers mentioned it... The park is free admission and staffed by volunteers. The short drive in is on a gravel road. Do check their Facebook page pior to visiting as the park can close for flooding, the heat (there's no AC in anything there), etc. The current centerpieces of the park are the USS Hazard (AM-240) and USS Marlin (SST-2) along with several other displays and aircraft. It does feel a little weird seeing these vessels sitting way up on dry land... I was a carrier sailor on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) so these are small boys comparatively speaking. Lol Some of the exhibits are kept up better than others... Hopefully you don't mind a little peeling paint and some rust. The equipment bears a bit of a resemblance to us old sailors who are showing our age a bit more now too. The labels and available handouts are helpful and great educational tools for the general public. As a former Navy sailor some of my best memories of this little park will be the conversations with it's volunteers. A lot of them are former sailors themselves. Veteran to veteran there is always common ground... Regardless of which service or era.

I don't know how I've lived here my whole life and just now learned of this little gem off Maple???…read moreI'm thankful to find this place and very happy it exists. Such a beautiful little spot to relax and really enjoy nature. Very thankful its free and highly recommend donating a few bucks if you can.

First time visitor Hidden gem…read moreFree to enter and free to park Located off maple and across from a golf course Creepy Blair witch vibes absolutely but whimsical serene and peaceful are others Place to bird watch Easy trails to wander on the boardwalk / picturesque spots / plenty of photo opportunities Place appears to be kept up and at the same time very deserted feeling Easy to explore with paths clearly marked and defined Easy to walk and jog through and at the same time enjoy the simple form of nature with cars zooming by Glad to have explored this hidden spot and curious how it will transform in future months ahead

This is a "must see" place in Omaha! The heroic-sized statues are beautifully done with intricate…read moreand lifelike details. The park spans over several city blocks as buffalo stampede from the pioneer wagon train and then geese fly off from a pond and through a nearby building. The entire scene is a visual masterpiece that simply must be experienced in person and up close.

This is a small but neat little park that features a bunch of life sized sculptures of early…read moresettlers and pioneers. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance, but this is not a destination park and most people won't be traveling here just for the park. It is touted as one of the largest sculpture parks of its kind in the US. The bronze and stainless steel sculptures are the work of Blair Buswell and Edward Fraughton. They give a very life-like and accurate depiction of westward expansion with statues families and animals, with wagons, venturing into unfamiliar territory. First National Bank commissioned the large project, which was headed by landscape architect Jim Reeves. This was one of two parks that were commissioned by the Bank. The sculptures are divided into sub sections including one titled Wagon Master, which represents the wagon that guided the rest of the pioneers and was responsible for supplies and management of the group. There is also the Hunter Group, which represents the wagon trains that were responsible for hunting and providing food provisions. You will also see the Trail Boss, waving his hat in the air and a Native American sentinel . The sculptures are very detailed. You can really feel their struggle. Viewers are able to mingle about and in between the sculptures. On the back side of the sculptures is an overlook area with some cement benches and some information placards along the wall. There is also a paved walkway and a decent patch of green space that I saw some people with their dogs. This is a nice park and definitely catches your eyes, but I do not see people making this their primary destination. Most visitors, such as myself, will be passing by or on their way to another destination and then are drawn in by the magnificent sculptures. Still, it is something that you must see while in Omaha. I highly recommend checking it out.

Great park with nice walking paths that are well maintained, a small picnic area and playground,…read morebasketball and pickle ball courts.

Really great park with ample pickle ball courts. Nice walking paths and very well kept. Great to…read moreget out and get some fresh air and enjoy the area. Seems like there are always quite a few people here enjoying the space.

Nice park with fishing, a playground, picnic shelter and grilling areas. The lake is stocked with…read morerainbow trout every year and seems to a popular spot with locals. The playground has slides and swings with some small climbing features. There is also a picnic shelter with several tables for gatherings as well as other uncovered picnic areas with grills along the walking path around the lake.

Nice little park with a trail around the lake. The pavement is smooth and level. There are also…read moreplenty of benches placed near the walking path around the lake to sit and enjoy the weather. As the weather has been nicer there have been a lot of people fishing and using the many grills available to use as well.