Hummel Park

Hummel Park is a 202-acre public park located at 11808 John J. Pershing Drive in North Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 1930, the park was named after Joseph B. Hummel, a long-time superintendent of Omaha's Parks and Recreation Department. The park is situated in an area known as Ponca Hills and is characterized by its dense woods, steep cliffs along its eastern edge, and deep ravines.

The park's landscape is covered in riparian forest, offering visitors a chance to experience nature within the city limits. One of the park's notable features is the "Devil's Slide," a natural cliff that provides an overlook of the Missouri River. The park's terrain is rugged, with narrow roads featuring twists, turns, and potholes, requiring careful navigation.

Hummel Park has a rich history, with the area once being home to various Native American tribes, including the Otoe, Pawnee, and Omaha. The park's vicinity also hosted important historical establishments such as Fort Lisa, a Spanish fur trading post, and Cabanne's Trading Post, both of which played significant roles in the region's early European-American settlement.

The park houses the Hummel Park Nature Center, which offers environmental education programs and special nature events. The center is also home to the Four Seasons Nature Preschool, which aims to instill a lifelong love, respect, and understanding of nature in young children.

For many years, Hummel Park was the subject of various urban legends due to its secluded location and dense woods. However, in recent years, the city has worked to overcome these myths and improve the park's safety and accessibility. The park now closes earlier in the evening, and efforts have been made to clean, maintain, and secure the area.

Hummel Park is particularly known for its challenging hiking trails and scenic overlooks. It has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and nature lovers in the Omaha area.