Lincoln Parks and Recreation hopes to open a play field next spring as the city begins laying the groundwork for a future community park in north Lincoln.
The city is seeking to annex and rezone approximately 155 acres near North 27th Street and Arbor Road. Parks and Recreation Assistant Director J.J. Yost told the Lincoln City Council Monday that a play field is already being developed on the property.
“We hope to open that up to public use next spring,” Yost said. “We have graded and seeded the field and we’re trying to get that turf grown in now.”
Yost said annexation would allow the city to extend water to the property for an irrigation system serving the field.
The property involved in the annexation consists of three parcels. Two are associated with the future park, while a third was purchased by the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District for possible future offices. Yost said the city and NRD envision the area functioning as a community campus.
Park improvements would primarily be focused on a roughly 58-acre central parcel. Conservation land around the perimeter includes protected wetlands and critical habitat for the Salt Creek tiger beetle.
The play field represents an early step toward the city’s larger plans for the property. Yost said full development of the community park does not yet have a set timeline and will depend on securing funding.
The annexation and rezoning proposals were on second reading Monday and have not yet received final City Council approval.