Hanscom Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hanscom Park Neighborhood
Lake at Hanscom Park
Type	Municipal (Omaha)
Location	Midtown Omaha
Created	1899
Status	Open all year

Hanscom Park is a special neighborhood in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. It's named after Hanscom Park, one of the oldest parks in the city. This park was given to Omaha way back in 1872. A famous person, U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, was actually born in a house right here in the Hanscom Park neighborhood! The neighborhood is bordered by Woolworth Street to the north, South 42nd Street to the west, Interstate 480 to the east, and Interstate 80 to the south.

Discovering Hanscom Park's Past

Hanscom Park is one of Omaha's oldest neighborhoods where people have lived for a long time. In October 1872, two men named Andrew J. Hanscom and James Megeath gave 50 acres (about 20 hectares) of land to the city. This land became the park. Mr. Hanscom had bought the land from Colonel Sam Bayliss, who was one of the first people to settle in Omaha City in 1854.

When the neighborhood was built in the 1890s, it was on the far western edge of Omaha. It was a great spot for fancy new homes. This was because a new electric trolley line connected it easily to downtown Omaha.

The Hanscom Park neighborhood has many interesting old houses. One of them, the George N. Hicks House, is even recognized as an Omaha Landmark. In 1913, U.S. President Gerald Ford was born in his grandfather's house. This house was located at 3202 Woolworth Avenue in the Hanscom Park neighborhood. Today, the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens celebrates this important place.

The Historic Hanscom Park Itself

Hanscom Park around the late 1800s

Hanscom Park is located at 1899 South 32nd Avenue. The City of Omaha developed it in 1889. It was one of the first parks created by the city's new Park Commission. The Commission hired a landscape architect to design the park. They spent $913.30 to make plans for the rough piece of land.

After the improvements, the Commission reported that the park was "radically changed" and "greatly improved." It featured two lakes, a waterfall, and many flower beds. There were also two and a half miles of paved roads and beautiful fountains. The park had many large forest trees, making it the only "finished park" in the city at that time. Some of these original design ideas are still visible in the park today. The Brandeis Indoor Tennis Courts are also located within the park. The park is bordered by Park Avenue to the east and 32nd Avenue to the west. Woolworth Avenue is its northern border, and Ed Creighton Avenue is its southern border.

A replica of the old bandstand in Hanscom Park

Hanscom Park Today

For many years, some of the historic houses in the neighborhood were turned into apartments. However, in recent years, more and more properties have been changed back into single-family homes. This means families are moving back into these beautiful old houses.

More to Explore

• Neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska
• Hanscom Park United Methodist Church