For decades, the Kramer Power Plant occupied this stretch of riverfront along the Missouri River. When the plant was retired and eventually dismantled, the city of Bellevue, Nebraska, had an opportunity to transform an area once dedicated to power into a place dedicated to outdoor recreation. In this space, people reconnect with the river, each other, and themselves, creating a place where recreation, community, and nature coexist. Over time, American Heroes Park took shape through trails, gathering areas, a fishing pier, a 10-acre pond, public art, and community events. The outdoor play and exercise area helps the larger park function as a regional destination, reflecting the belief that thoughtfully designed public spaces strengthen connections, encourage engagement, and help define a community.

Honoring Service Through Place
Bellevue's identity is deeply connected to Offutt Air Force Base, home to generations of military families. As plans for American Heroes Park evolved, the community saw an opportunity to create more than a traditional memorial space. They envisioned a destination where military families could gather, connect, and establish a sense of place. For many who live here, assignments change and families move on. The need for connection, however, remains constant. Creating an outdoor space where recreation, connection, and community come together across generations becomes even more important for areas like Bellevue, where a sense of place carries lasting importance.

A Destination for All Ages
Central to the park is a 38,000-square-foot playground and outdoor fitness space - the largest in Bellevue and a destination that attracts visitors from across the Omaha metropolitan area. Designed to welcome people of varying ages, abilities, and preferences, the playground embraces inclusive principles and play equity with ramped access routes, parallel pathways, sensory-rich experiences, and ground-level activities so more children can play alongside their peers. Adventure elements introduce opportunities for climbing, sliding, spinning, and exploration, while spaces for younger children provide age-appropriate experiences that encourage confidence and discovery.

 

The design extends beyond traditional playground amenities. Ninja-style obstacle course fitness opportunities for children ages 5-12, teens, and adults encourage active participation and provide a unique opportunity for outdoor exercise that brings people of all fitness levels together. Gathering spaces, shaded areas, and interactive play experiences support longer visits and multigenerational engagement. The play environment and broader park support a range of uses, from active play to exercise, quiet time outdoors, and connection to nature. The landscape welcomes community members and visitors alike and is designed for shared, flexible use across ages and abilities.

Designed for Choice, Connection and Discovery
At the heart of American Heroes Park is a design philosophy centered on choice - creating opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, play styles and preferences to experience the space in ways that feel meaningful to them. Inclusion was not approached as an afterthought, but rather as an essential part of the overall design. The playground offers multiple ways to participate, whether a child seeks adventure and challenge, prefers imaginative exploration, enjoys sensory experiences, or simply wants to play in whatever way they desire at that moment. Color played an important role in creating an environment that feels welcoming, energetic, and engaging. Vibrant hues bring definition and energy to active areas, with colors like red often associated with movement, excitement, and physical activity, while the overall palette creates a lively backdrop for discovery and connection.

The play experience was designed to support a wide range of interests and abilities. Ramped structures for both ages 2-5 and 5-12 create opportunities for children to move through the playground independently in ways that support their comfort and growth. The accessible pathways and varied play experiences allow children to make choices about how they engage, encouraging confidence and self-directed play.

For teens, adults, and children in the 5-12 age group, the Fitness Course extends the experience beyond traditional play or exercise, encouraging intergenerational movement while offering opportunities for strength, agility, and endurance training in an outdoor setting. Level X® Extreme climbing adventures provide challenging routes for those seeking greater physical challenge and the use of mixed materials and sensory elements for those who desire sensory-filled play. Two zip rides create shared excitement for children of diverse abilities and bring equity to adventure with multiple ways to ride and soar.

Other elements encourage connection in different ways. A Giant Burke Chair is a gathering point and photo opportunity before people venture into the space to play or exercise. An electronic game blends physical activity with interactive technology that encourages movement for a variety of ages and abilities, with the game buttons in the wheelchair reach zone. A Synergy® Playfort and the Burke Express train provide imaginative play opportunities and a space to step away from the action, plan a play experience, or participate in onlooker or spectator play. Shade coverage throughout the environment supports longer visits and creates comfortable areas where everyone can gather. Together, these elements create more than a playground. They create a flexible outdoor destination where everyone can find their own way to participate, explore, and connect.

Building Community Along the River
The success of American Heroes Park extends beyond the Bellevue area. The park now serves as a regional destination for recreation and gathering. What was once an industrial riverfront supports play, exercise, fishing, and community events, with the Missouri River and a 10-acre pond supporting activity along the water. That relationship between people and water reflects a broader body of research on blue spaces - water-based environments such as rivers, lakes, and coasts - that identifies links to recreation use, social interaction, and wellbeing, including improved subjective health and increased physical activity. Combining green and blue spaces with the built environment creates a holistic experience where everyone can recreate outdoors together.

Lasting Impact
The landscape tells a story of the evolution of a space that became a place for people to find community. Plans have recently been approved to build an amphitheater and permanent restrooms in the park, with construction set to begin in the next year. Where utility once defined the riverfront, communities now gather to play, exercise, celebrate, and connect, creating lasting memories and bringing play and recreation to the City of Bellevue and beyond.

1 Garrett, Joanne K., et al. "Applying an Ecosystem Services Framework on Nature and Mental Health to Recreational Blue Space Visits Across 18 Countries." Scientific Reports, 2023.

As seen in LASN magazine, September 2026.