Union Plaza

• Location: North of "O" Street between 21st and 22nd Streets
• Date of Completion: 2010
• Total Project Cost: $4.6 million

Union Plaza is a new six-acre urban park located north of "O" Street between 21st and 22nd Streets that will be constructed as part of the Antelope Valley flood and roadway project. When completed in 2010, Union Plaza will be a "must-see" for residents and visitors to our community. The Lincoln Parks Foundation is proud to lead a community fundraising campaign that will help "build the park and take care of it forever." All who donate to this special project receive a charter membership to the Friends of Lincoln's Parks organization, dedicated to enhancing our city parks and recreation system.

Antelope Park Rose Garden Renovation

• Location: SE of 27th Street & Capitol Parkway
• Date of Completion: 2008
• Total Project Cost: $350,000+

The Lincoln Parks Foundation, the Lincoln Rose Society, and the City of Lincoln's Parks & Recreation Department, were proud to lead the $350,000 campaign to renovate and restore Lincoln's only municipal rose garden. A generous donation from Don Hamann, owner of Sartor Hamann Jewelers, and an avid rose grower, helped kick this campaign off.

The campaign kick-off was April 20, 2006 at Mayor Seng's press conference in Sunken Gardens. The renovation started in the Fall of 2006 and was fully completed by 2008.

Sunken Gardens Renovation

• Location: SW of 27th Street and Capitol Parkway
• Date of Completion: Summer 2005
• Total Project Cost: $1.7 million dollars

The Sunken Gardens Renovation was the first major campaign taken on by the Lincoln Parks Foundation. With the help of local businesses, foundations and individuals, over $1.7 million dollars was raised to renovate this historic garden. More Information....

Martin Property Acquisition

• Location: Pioneers Park, West of the Nature Center
• Date of Completion: Late Summer 2005

In May 2005, the Lincoln Parks Foundation stepped forward to help secure the deed on a 228-acre tract of land, just west of the Pioneers Park Nature Center, from the Martin family. Originally used by BN Railroad as a watering and feeding stop for livestock in the early 1900s, most of the land has never been tilled and remains the last native, virgin prairie adjacent to Pioneers Park.

The Foundation secured the land, worth $1.26 million, and worked with the Natural Resource Conversation Service to secure a Grassland Reserve Program easement worth over $1.08 million. Because of this easement, the City of Lincoln was transferred ownership of the land for about $182,500. This amount was funded in part by the following: Lincoln Parks Foundation, City of Lincoln, Friends of the Pioneers Park Nature Center, Nebraska Environmental Trust, donations to Lincoln Cares, Lancaster County and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources Department.

Mayor Coleen J. Seng accepted the deed in December 2005, noting that it "would not have been possible" without the Foundation, enabling the City to "add this land to our parks system at a great savings for taxpayers." See press release....

Park Middle School Teen Center

• Location: Park Middle School, 855 South 8th Street
• Date of Completion: 2005

The Park Middle School Teen Center is collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Department and Park Middle School that converted unused storage space within the school into a teen center. During the fall semester of 2005, more than 80% of Park Middle School students visited the center each day to participate in recreation activities, social time and homework assistance.

The Lincoln Parks Foundation made a financial contribution to the project, and managed donated funds.

Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park

• Location: North 32nd Street and Huntington Avenue
• Date of Completion: 2004

As a new community park serving central Lincoln, the Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park was dedicated in 2004. This park is the first community project completed in conjunction with the Antelope Valley project. The park was jointly planned and is cooperatively managed by the University of Nebraska -- Lincoln Campus Recreation Department and the City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department. The park was named in recognition of nationally renowned landscape plant hybridizers Jim, Bob and Dave Fleming. The original landscape nursery operated by the Fleming Brothers named Fleming Flower Fields was located at the site of the Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park.

The Lincoln Parks Foundation assisted in development of the Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park by administering grant funds for development of youth ball field facilities.

Park It at WOODS Project

• Location: Woods Park, South 33rd and J Streets
• Date of Completion: 2004

In 1990, a master plan was developed for future improvements in Woods Park. Members of the Lincoln Tennis Association came together to initiate a fundraising effort to improve the tennis facilities, replace the aging playground, build a walking path system and bring public art to Woods Park. In 2004, Park It at WOODS Project improvements were dedicated and donors were recognized for contributing more than $650,000 to improvements in Woods Park.

The Lincoln Parks Foundation made a financial contribution to the project and managed donated funds.

Jim Ager Junior Golf Course

• Location: 3761 Normal Boulevard

The Jim Ager Junior Golf Course is a 9-hole, 27-par course located in the center of the City. This innovative golf course was developed in the 1960's to provide a play space for Lincoln's youth to be introduced to the sport of golf. Many adults also enjoy the Course.

Recently, two handicap accessible golf carts were purchased. Existing golf cart bridges over Antelope Creek were widened to accommodate the new carts, making the course more accessible to people with mobility limitations. The Foundation made a financial contribution and managed grant funding to purchase the carts and replace the bridges.

The Lincoln Parks Foundation has financially supported the "Sticks for Kids" program in the past, and continues to do so today. This program is a 3-day program that introduces youth from a variety of economic backgrounds to the game of golf. Learn More....

Antelope Park Accessible Playground

• Location: Antelope Park South, A Street and Memorial Drive
• Date of Completion: Summer 2001

In 1987, Lincoln's first completely handicap accessible playground was developed through a community initiative. Nearly 15 years later, this playground was replaced with a new "place for all children to play together" through a fundraising initiative spearheaded by students from Lincoln Southeast High School. Students were successful in raising $300,000 to the build the Antelope Park Playground. This playground is not only the largest playground in the region, but is designed to provide opportunities for children of all abilities to play and learn.

The Lincoln Parks Foundation managed funds donated for construction of the project and continues to management an endowment fund for ongoing repair and replacement of playground components.

If you would like to donate to the Antelope Park Playground Endowment fund, click here.