Lincoln Parks and Gardens

(Lincoln, Nebraska - NE, USA)

Although much of the cityscape of this state capital is fairly urban, with a number of high rises such as both the Nebraska State Capital and the Sharp Tower, there are also many green spaces scattered around Lincoln.

There are in fact more than 120 parks within the boundaries of the city and together with other public land, walking trails and golf courses, the green spaces of Lincoln make up in excess of 2,430 hectares / 6,000 acres.

Around the downtown district, the parks, public squares and gardens tend to provide useful recreational spaces for locals to make use of. Located on South 33rd Street, Woods Park is especially central and comes with a tennis center and a baseball diamond, as well as seating areas and mature trees.

General Information

When the freezing winters subside and the milder springtime weather begins to make itself known in Lincoln, the Sunken Gardens on South 27th Street burst into colour with literally thousands of flowers starting to bloom.

Lying alongside the Children's Zoo and the Antelope Creek, and nearby the offices of Lincoln Parks and Recreation, the Sunken Gardens are also close to both the Billy Wolff and Rock Island nature trails. Ponds, rockeries, neatly clipped shrubs and plenty of specimen trees make this horticultural attraction quite unmissable. Of interest, the Lincoln Sunken Gardens actually appear within the National Geographic Guide's 300 Best Gardens to Visit in North America.

Wilderness Park is amongst the biggest in Lincoln and resides on the far southwestern side of the city, where it is bounded by the Homestead Expressway, Old Cheney Road and Warlick Boulevard. This is a very natural expanse of almost 600 hectares / 1,480 acres and is centered around the meandering Beal Slough, which is a small stream flowing into the Salt Creek. The recreational activities available at Wilderness Park are the big draw here and include trails suitable for walking, horseback riding and cycling. A stroll along the Jamaica North Trail is recommended and this route takes in the Union Pacific's old and now abandoned railway line.

Established in the early years of the 1960s and also to be found in southwestern Lincoln is the Pioneers Park Nature Center, a 270-hectare / 670-acre attraction sited within a corner of Pioneers Park. The Haines Branch Creek and various ponds provide interest, along with some 8-miles / 13-km of hiking trails, a landscaped herb garden and a series of animal exhibits such as eagles, hawks, kestrels, owls, snakes, turtles and vultures.

If you are looking to take a stroll around some extensive plant collections in Lincoln, then consider a trip to one or more of the following:

Alice Abel Arboretum
Address: 5000 St. Paul Street, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska (NE), 68504, USA

Earl G. Maxwell Arboretum
Address: University of Nebraska-Lincoln (East Campus), East Campus Loop, Nebraska (NE), 68508, USA

Joshua C. Turner Arboretum
Address: Union College, 3800 South 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska (NE), 68506, USA

State Fair Park Arboretum
Address: State Fair Park, Holdrege Street / North 17th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska (NE), USA