Mercer Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Mercer Park is a sprawling green space located in the city of Omaha, Nebraska.


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Summary

This 134-acre park offers visitors a chance to explore nature, participate in outdoor activities, and learn about the history of the area. Some of the top reasons to visit Mercer Park include its beautiful walking trails, expansive picnic areas, and wide range of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy playing sports like baseball, basketball, and tennis, or take advantage of the park's playgrounds and open spaces for relaxation and fun.

One of the most interesting points of interest in Mercer Park is its large fishing pond, which is stocked with a variety of fish species including bass, catfish, and bluegill. The park's Nature Center is another highlight, offering interactive exhibits and educational programs about the local ecosystem and wildlife. Visitors can also explore the park's historic sites, which include the remains of the once-thriving town of Florence.

If you're planning a visit to Mercer Park, the best time of year to go is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and pleasant. However, the park is open year-round and offers beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities in all seasons. Overall, Mercer Park is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves the great outdoors and wants to experience the natural beauty of Nebraska.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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.
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