Gene Leahy Mall
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 4, 2025
Gene Leahy Mall is a popular urban park located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.
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Summary
The park covers over 9 acres and offers visitors a variety of recreational activities, scenic views, and points of interest.
Some good reasons to visit Gene Leahy Mall include its central location in downtown Omaha, its proximity to other popular attractions and restaurants, and the variety of activities available for all ages. The park offers a large playground for children, a beautiful fountain, numerous walking paths, and a scenic bridge overlooking the Missouri River.
Specific points of interest to see at Gene Leahy Mall include Heartland of America Park, which is located adjacent to the park and offers a large lake for paddle boating, a fountain light show, and a walking trail. The park is also home to the Omaha Farmers Market, which takes place on Saturdays from May through October and offers a variety of local produce, crafts, and live music.
Interesting facts about Gene Leahy Mall include that it was named after a former Omaha mayor, Gene Leahy, and was designed in the 1970s to serve as a green space in the heart of downtown Omaha. The park is known for its beautiful landscaping and stunning views of the city skyline.
The best time of year to visit Gene Leahy Mall is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of seasonal events and activities, such as ice skating in the winter and concerts in the summer.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Friendship City Park
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Camp Brewster
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Lake Manawa State Park
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Camp Logan Fontenelle
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Camp Wakonda
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N. P. Dodge Mem Park
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Heartland of America Park
Pioneer Courage Park
Kenefick Park
Dahlman Park
Kellom Park