Hanscom Park

Hanscom Park is a historic neighborhood in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Its namesake public park is one of the oldest parks in Omaha, donated to the City in 1872. [Washburn, T. (2004) [http://www.ketv.com/150thbirthday/3529435/detail.html "What Kind Of History Haunts Your House? Homeowners Research Their Houses."] KETV. 7/14/04. Retrieved 6/26/07.] U.S. President Gerald R. Ford was born in a house in the Hanscom Park neighborhood. [Arens, C. (2001) [http://www.nebraskalife.com/PresidentFord.asp "From Woolworth Ave. to the White House."] "Nebraska Life Magazine." Retrieved 6/26/07.]

History

Hanscom Park is one of the oldest parks and residential subdivisions in Omaha. Andrew J. Hanscom and James Megeath donated the 50-acre park in October 1872. Hanscom bought the land from Colonel Sam Bayliss, one of the original homesteaders in Omaha City in 1854. [Roenfeld, R. (nd) [http://www.thehistoricalsociety.org/sam%20bayliss%20on%20broadway.htm "Sam Bayliss on Broadway."] Historical Society of Pottawatomie County. Retrieved 6/26/07.] When the community was developed through the 1890s, it was on the western fringe of Omaha. The site was ideal for an upscale development because of its access to a new electric trolley line connecting it with downtown. [Washburn, T. (2004) [http://www.ketv.com/150thbirthday/3529435/detail.html "What Kind Of History Haunts Your House? Homeowners Research Their Houses."] KETV. 7/14/04. Retrieved 6/26/07.]

The neighborhood is home to several notable houses. One of them, the George N. Hicks House, has been designated an Omaha Landmark. [(nd) [http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/landmarks/designated_landmarks/landmarks/54/Default.htm Hicks House] . City of Omaha Landmark Heritage Commission. Retrieved 6/25/07.] In 1913, U.S. President Gerald Ford was born in his grandfather's mansion at 3202 Woolworth Avenue in the Hanscom Park neighborhood. Today the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens celebrates this location. [Arens, C. (2001) [http://www.nebraskalife.com/PresidentFord.asp "From Woolworth Ave. to the White House."] "Nebraska Life Magazine." Retrieved 6/26/07.]

Infobox park
park=Hanscom Park


image size=
caption=
type=Municipal (Omaha)
location=Midtown Omaha
coordinates=
size=
opened=1899
operator=
annual visitors=
status=Open all year

The park

Hanscom Park, located at 1899 South 32nd Avenue, was developed by the City of Omaha in 1889 as one of the first by the newly formed Park Commission. After paying a landscape architect $913.30 for plans to improve the rough tract of land, the Commission reported the park was, "radically changed in plan and very greatly improved... Two lakes, a cascade, extensive flower beds, two and one-half miles of macadamized roadway, fountains and a magnificent growth of forest trees makes this the only finished park in the city." Design elements from that time have survived. [(nd) [http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/parks/Parks/hanscompark.htm Hanscom Park.] City of Omaha. Retrieved 6/25/07.]

Present

After years of historical houses in the neighborhood being converted into apartments, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of properties that have been returned to single family homes during the past few years. [(nd) [http://www.restoreomaha.com/resources.htm Resources] . Restore Omaha. Retrieved 6/25/07.]

ee also

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

References