Key Takeaways
- A multipurpose indoor-outdoor youth sports facility is proposed for a 41-acre site in North Omaha’s Enterprise Park, funded partially by a $90 million state grant
- The complex would focus on soft turf sports including football, soccer, softball, and baseball, complementing a nearby $45 million hard court facility
- The development team plans to create a shovel-ready site for an investor to build and operate the facility, with site acquisitions targeted by mid-February 2026
- Community survey respondents ranked the sports complex site as the most exciting of three proposed business park locations
- The site requires environmental cleanup from its previous use as a dumping area but offers proximity to the airport, downtown Omaha, and Carter Lake
Strategic Location Drives Facility Concept
A North Omaha business park development has identified a youth sports complex as a anchor use for one of three sites being acquired through a state-funded initiative. The proposed facility would occupy part of a 41-acre tract at Enterprise Park near 16th and Locust Streets.
The development team, led by Omaha Economic Development Corp., Burlington Capital, and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, is working under oversight from the Omaha Inland Port Authority. The group presented plans to approximately 75 community members at a January 15 meeting at the Highlander Accelerator campus.
George Achola, a representative of the development team, described the proposed complex as an indoor-outdoor multipurpose facility designed for soft turf sports. The site would also include space for commercial businesses alongside the athletic facilities.
Complementary Programming with Nearby Complex
The Enterprise Park facility would serve different sports than the $45 million Levi Carter Park Activity and Sports Complex currently under development on the north shore of Carter Lake. According to Achola, the Levi Carter facility will focus on hard court sports like volleyball and basketball, while the Enterprise Park location would handle turf-based activities.
The development team views this programming split as strategic, allowing both facilities to operate without direct competition while serving broader community needs. The Levi Carter complex will be owned and maintained by the City of Omaha.
Economic Development Focus Shapes Site Selection
The development team identified job creation and economic activity as primary objectives for the $90 million initiative. Achola pointed to successful youth sports facilities in communities like Kearney, Nebraska, where surrounding economic ecosystems developed around athletic complexes.
“What North Omaha needs is an economic driver, something that allows people to spend money within the community. That will create jobs,” Achola said at the community meeting.
The Nebraska Legislature directed the $90 million from pandemic recovery funding specifically to create shovel-ready industrial business park space. Governor Jim Pillen and the Department of Economic Development awarded the grant in early 2024.
Environmental Cleanup Required Before Development
The Enterprise Park site previously served as a dumping area, creating environmental cleanup requirements that initially caused the development team to downplay the location. However, Achola emphasized the site’s value given its proximity to the airport, Carter Lake, downtown Omaha, and a potential professional soccer stadium.
“This is going to be one of the few opportunities you have to clean something up and make it an economic driver,” Achola said. “We’re going to reap the long-term economic benefits of bringing to life a valuable piece of dirt.”
The development team expects to prepare the site for an investor who would then build and operate the sports facility, though all development structures remain under consideration.
Acquisition Timeline and Community Response
Michael Maroney of the Omaha Economic Development Corp. said the team is moving to acquire all three business park sites, with purchases targeted by mid-February 2026. However, he noted that not all acquisitions may be completed and the group may explore additional properties.
An electronic survey conducted at the community meeting asked attendees to rank the three proposed sites. The 16th and Locust Streets tract, which would house the sports complex, ranked first. Respondents identified job creation and community growth as the top indicators of project success.
The other two sites under consideration include a 13-acre location at 5906 Abbott Drive for a 150,000-square-foot warehouse with potential food hall, office, and event center uses, and an eight-acre site near 6720 N. 16th Street for light industrial operations.
via: Yahoo
photo: Courtesy of Rebecca S. Gratz
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