Fun Activities with Kids on the Omaha Riverfront

If you are new to the city of Omaha or are considering a move to Omaha you may be interested in getting to know the area better. One of the most popular spots in Omaha is the downtown riverfront. The area has seen some recent renovations and is now home to three connecting public parks and will soon have two more. It is a great place for anyone to enjoy but especially great to have some fun with kids. 

Here is a Guide to Enjoying the Omaha Riverfront with Your Kids

A Little About the Park at Omaha Riverfront

The park in the riverfront area of downtown Omaha is known as the Gene Leahy Mall. It is not a shopping center but a system of connected outdoor play spaces and event venues. It is located between Douglas and Farnam Streets spanning about five blocks along the riverfront. The area features green space, a pavilion that hosts several community events, water features, a playground, ping pong tables, and food trucks. 

Favorite Family-Friendly Park Features

Events

This park is host to many Omaha favorite community events. Some of the most notable events hosted here include the Art Jam in the Park which is a free event (who doesn't love some budget-friendly and family-friendly stuff to do especially as the cost of going out rises?) that was inspired by the Joslyn Art Museum and the collections they feature (another fun place to explore in Omaha). This event runs every Thursday in the summer through the months of June and July beginning at 11 am. 

There are fitness classes in the park including Yoga for all levels. The Fourth of July Celebration is hosted here. Live on the Lawn local concerts. Events hosted by the Omaha Public Library, and much more. Check out the full event calendar at the Riverfront Omaha website. 

The Playground

The play area at the park has something to keep kids of all ages entertained. There are swings for infants and toddlers, a smaller play structure more easily traversed by the smallest of parkgoers, a larger play structure for older kids, and plenty of slides to enjoy with varying different heights and speeds. 

Splash Park

The splash park is a favorite for kids in the summer on hot days. It is a fun way to cool down, kids can get a little wet and dry off quickly or a lot wet like they have enjoyed a day at the waterpark. It is fun for kids of all ages and even their accompanying adults to get some relief from the heat. 

Ping Pong 

The ping pong tables are a lot of fun, especially for tweens and teens. If your teen isn't into watching and playing with younger at the playground or splash pad this area is something they might be interested in. There are also plenty of shaded areas and hammocks to enjoy while getting in some more music listening. 

Parking

When coming into the downtown Omaha area a lot of people have questions about the best plan for parking. There is parking available all around the park, it is good to note that the spaces are paid parking spaces. The nice thing is that parking fees can be easily paid online through the mobile app by scanning the QR code that is present on the parking meters or just downloading the app ahead of time. 

The parking fee is pretty reasonable at $2 for 2 hours. It is good to note that you want to estimate your time wisely and pay for all of the parking time you plan to use when you get there to avoid having to move your car. 

Grabbing Some Food

If you come on the right day the food truck will be out allowing you to enjoy some of Omaha's great local food and support small businesses without ever having to leave the park. But if the trucks aren't out there are some local and national restaurants within walking distance of the park. Some of the most highly rated include El Dorado, Jams American Grill, M's Pub, Dynamite Woodfire, Twisted Fork Grill, and Spaghetti Works. 

There are countless fun things to do and love in the city of Omaha to discover when you have just moved here or are looking for reasons why you might want to move to Omaha. 

For more information about finding a home in Omaha that you will love please contact me. I can help to give you insight on Omaha including the most popular neighbors and highest-rated public and private schools. I have dedicated myself to helping my clients make their move to Omaha as stress-free as possible.