South Haymarket Park: An Emerald Gem for the Capital City

by Molly Nance

One of the things that makes a great city is a great park. New York has Central Park, San Francisco has Golden Gate Park, Chicago has Grant Park, and within two or three years, Lincoln will have South Haymarket Park. The park will be located southwest of 7th and N streets, forming a southern expansion of the Haymarket District.

“Obviously, South Haymarket Park won’t have the scale of a huge metropolis park, but we are excited to bring nearly 7 acres of natural greenspace and outdoor recreation to the urban heart of Lincoln,” said J.J. Yost, Planning & Facilities Manager, Lincoln Parks & Recreation.

South Haymarket Park will include as much lawn and garden space as possible, with native trees, shrubs and flowers. Visitors will be able to stroll the park and perhaps bring lunch or dinner from one of the many nearby restaurants to enjoy at shaded picnic tables or benches. 

“We’re including many features that will appeal to people of all ages,” said Yost, “We think South Haymarket Park will attract lots of folks who live and/or work in the area, as well as people visiting Lincoln for conferences, events or vacation.”

These features will include an interactive splashpark with inground jets spraying water during the summer months; a designated dog park; a plaza for small events or gatherings; an all-abilities accessible playground; and a connection trail linking the Jamaica North Trail at Fourth and J streets with the N Street and Haymarket trails. 

In addition, Lincoln Parks & Recreation is working with a consultant, and the local skateboarding community to build Lincoln’s first in-ground skate park with bowls and ramps. The skate park will host exhibitions and competitions.

The seed for this new park was sown into the 2005 Downtown Lincoln Master Plan and later included in the Haymarket Development Plan. As retail and residential activity has soared in the Haymarket during the past decade, the need for recreational space has become even more important. 

“The planned park location was previously a scrapyard. With commercial expansion in the Haymarket, this area was cleaned and restored to meet environmental safety requirements. It’s in a floodplain, so not suitable for commercial or residential uses, but ideal for an urban park,” said Yost.

“The $15 million park will support continued growth of downtown living, act as a catalyst for economic development activity and tourism, and promote health equity and a livable community,” said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird during a news conference announcing South Haymarket Park plans in April 2023.

According to Yost, five million dollars is already designated for South Haymarket Park through city Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds, initial gifts and economic development grants. The Lincoln Parks Foundation is launching a capital campaign this fall to raise the remaining $10 million. See the foundation’s website at www.lincolnparks.org for project updates and online donation information.

Park construction is expected to begin in fall 2024 or spring 2025 and take approximately 12 to 14 months to complete.   “South Haymarket Park will be a destination in this community for residents and visitors alike. We can’t wait to welcome Lincoln to this new space and watch it come to life,” said Lincoln Parks & Recreation Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross.