Initial design for Lincoln’s South Haymarket skatepark released

Initial designs for a skatepark in Lincoln were shared at a public open house Tuesday evening.

The skatepark is part of the larger 8.5-acre South Haymarket Park development near the intersection of Seventh and N streets.

The 25,000-square-foot skatepark is set to become the state’s largest upon completion.

Skatepark designer Vince Onel said the new skatepark will provide opportunities for all skill levels over a variety of terrains.

His initial design includes pump tracks, two bowls, street elements, and several sculptures.

“It is a modern, state of the art concrete skatepark that would be a regional destination level facility that would obviously service the local users, but also attract skateboarders and BMX bike riders from all over the Midwest,” Onel said.

Onel plans to present an updated design at another public meeting before the park groundbreaking in 2025.

Andrew Windle, a longtime skateboarder and member of the Lincoln Skatepark Association says the city’s investment means a lot to the Nebraska skateboarding community.

“This skatepark will be a pretty amazing thing for our city,” he said. “It's definitely going to be one of the best skating facilities in the entire state of Nebraska.”

The City of Lincoln estimates that the entire cost of developing South Haymarket Park will be $25 million.

The Lincoln Skatepark Association is planning to raise $1 million for the skatepark project.

Kristin Holmes, who is in charge of fundraising for the Lincoln Skatepark Association, said she is working with various donors and grant organizations to provide funds.

“This is a really big deal for Lincoln and it’s a huge price tag,” she said. “We need to get the word out to anybody we possibly can.”

The skatepark is expected to be completed in summer 2026.