Slides, a sculpture garden and a boat cove fill Gene Leahy Mall, the 9.6-acre park Omaha calls The Mall, here in the heart of downtown. As you step forward you can already picture the two large slides and the sculpture garden, the remote-control boat cove that delights kids and the large children’s play area nearby. In summer the mall’s amphitheater fills with music when outdoor concerts are held, and in winter the grounds are dressed with thousands of lights for the holiday season.
This place grew out of a deliberate city effort: in June 1973 the Omaha City Council dedicated $2.37 million for construction, demolition on the site began in August 1975 and was finished by May 1980. The first block, directly east of the W. Dale Clark Library, opened in June 1977, and that same year Burger King announced a $5,000 gift to help build the playground. Planners hoped the rest would be completed by 1981.
East of the mall lie the Heartland of America Park, the Mutual of Omaha Headquarters Tower, the Old Market and the nearby ConAgra campus, neighbors to a playground Burger King helped pay for back in 1977.