Reimagining Omaha’s Mandan Park for the Community to Enjoy

Mandan Park in southern Omaha was created with the best intentions: to serve as a dedicated green space for families and children in the surrounding neighborhood to enjoy. To help reimagine and reclaim this original vision, IMBA Trail Solutions partnered with Trails Have Our Respect, Police Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE), the City of Omaha, and various other community partners. In 2022 and 2023, 4 miles of beginner-friendly trails and a dedicated skills area were added to the 18-acre park. IMBA is enthusiastic about its ongoing efforts to promote more equitable access to trails across Omaha.

Adding a modular pump track to the park is like inserting a question mark into a series of declarative sentences. “What happens next will revolve around learning and supporting the South Omaha community. There isn't a predetermined outcome from individuals like myself. Discovering the answers will undoubtedly be an interesting story,” said Jason Brummels, the Executive Director of Trails Have Our Respect.

Since launching THOR’s Trail Equity Program, the organization has gained valuable insights and continues to refine its master feasibility study to identify where trails would be beneficial in Omaha, Nebraska. Attendees at the pump track’s opening day, including members of THOR, shared in the excitement and discussed the organization's next steps to connect more areas within the core of Omaha.

If you’d like to host one of these in your community, contact THOR’s Community Engagement Director, Melissa Antinaro (melissa@thortrails.org)