Restoring Life at Lewis and Clark Landing

Lewis and Clark Landing, previously home to a lead refinery plant which prompted a multidecade restoration initiative, recently received a range of upgrades for improved safety, aesthetics and entertainment. Despite years of remediation efforts to remove hazardous materials and lay down clean soil, the area lacked a sense of renewed purpose. As the final phase of Omaha’s three-part RiverFront Revitalization project, the city turned to HDR and OJB Landscape Architecture to rejuvenate Lewis and Clark Landing — providing visitors with the allure of natural beauty, access to the Missouri River and the opportunity to engage in play and excitement.

Creating a Welcoming Environment for Everyone

Lewis and Clark Landing’s upgrades go beyond aesthetics, including a range of amenities that can entice visitors of all ages. Play structures encourage climbing and risk-taking while seating areas with spectacular river views provide calming spaces. To create a safe and comfortable environment for the park’s visitors, the team focused on installing stormceptors to protect the waterways from hazardous spills and stormwater pollution, selecting native trees and plants tolerant to the area’s climate, and establishing various pedestrian paths in and out of the park.

• The park features play structures such as swings, climbing walls, boulders, ziplines and a 50-foot climbing tower.
• An urban beach provides additional seating with river views and several sand volleyball courts.
• A Sioux Warrior statue and a new statue of Chief Big Elk pay homage to local indigenous history.
• The new Kiewit Luminarium, located in Lewis and Clark Landing, holds over 120 science, technology, engineering and math-focused exhibits with interactive features to challenge visitors of all ages with real-world experiments and critical thinking.
• Reconfigured streets and recreational trails provide effortless access to the park.

Inviting Omaha to Rediscover Community

Efforts to make Lewis and Clark Landing both safe and exciting have brought a pulse back to The RiverFront park. “The parks are a destination for our citizens and visitors,” said Jean Stothert, Omaha’s mayor. 

With their revamped design and systems, the connected parks invite and encourage visitors to explore, relax and forge a stronger connection to their community.