A community vision of equitable access to nature and outdoor spaces to move, play, and explore for everyone in every neighborhood of the Omaha metro.
Together with IMBA and community organizations across Omaha, we are building the infrastructure and opportunities to get people moving and connected with nature to foster healthy and resilient children, strong families, and vibrant neighborhoods that attract and retain the people and talent foundational for thriving businesses and culture.
The Omaha Natural Surface Trails Feasibility Study seeks to identify locations for trails, bike skills development features, bike parks, and bicycle playgrounds and create a connected network of trails and bike facilities within the Omaha metro area.
Why this study? Why now?
The Omaha metro area provides expansive paved trail networks, but natural surface trails are few and far between. A well-planned natural surface trail network development results in improved public health, equitable access, increased youth engagement, community building, and positive economic impacts. Natural surface singletrack trails and bike-optimized park facilities encourage access for a wide range of trail users and riders.
This project seeks to identify feasible and high-priority locations for natural surface trails and bike-optimized park facilities within Omaha's parks and public spaces. As trail networks are unavailable within the neighborhoods of North and South Omaha, this project prioritizes introducing trail and bike facilities in areas that are currently under-served in terms of access to trails and recreational amenities.
Omaha is growing city with a vision of high quality of life for residents.
Omaha ranks on numerous Best Cities lists as one of the top places to live and relocate, serving residents and attracting new residents with family-friendly activities, diverse educational options, affordability, and a prosperous business environment.
The metropolitan area is home to 990,402 residents and grew 9.5% between 2010 and 2020; expanding 3% more than the nation. The community comprises many young residents, as 34% of the population is 24 years of age or younger.
“It is important that the City takes steps now to determine how to accommodate new growth in the most beneficial way while still maintaining a HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.”
— City of Omaha’s Transportation Element Master Plan
Goals & Objectives
Equity
Bring sustainable singletrack trails and bike facilities to underserved neighborhoods without access to nature-based recreation.
Connectivity
Increase the availability and connectivity of natural surface singletrack trails “close to home” by identifying new trail corridors.
Innovation
Introduce innovative and modern bike-focused amenities that provide an engaging activity for Omaha’s residents.
Health
Locate additional recreational amenities to provide more opportunities for physical activity, enhancing overall healthy living and well-being.
Engagement
Create active spaces that provide engaging activities for community-based youth programs.
Sustainability
Identify suitable terrain and landscape opportunities for resilient trail alignments.
Community Partners
Youth & Community
Astute Coffee
Girls Inc
Latino Center of the Midlands
Omaha Home for Boys (OHB)
Outward Bound Omaha
Northstar Foundation
Spark CDI
Sherwood Foundation
Bike & Pedestrian
Bike Walk Nebraska
National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)
Nebraska DEVO
Nebraska Interscholastic Cycling League (NICL)
Trails Have Our Respect (THOR)
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Regional Agencies & Orgs
City of Omaha
City of Papillion
Metropolitan Area Planning Agency
National Park Service RTCA
Nebraska Game and Parks
Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Omaha Parks Foundation
Papio-Missouri River NRD
