Benson Park is located at 7028 Military Avenue in the Benson

Benson, Nebraska

Benson is a historic neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. Now a pocket within North Omaha, Benson Place was originally platted in 1887 and was annexed into the City of Omaha in 1917.-History:...

 neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

. The 217.3 acre (0.879382678 km²) park includes an ice rink

Ice rink

An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...

, a lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 and pavilion, as well as a scenic picnic area.

History

When the city of Omaha

Government of Omaha

The government of the City of Omaha, Nebraska consists of the Mayor of Omaha, the Omaha City Council and various departments of the City of Omaha, which in located in Douglas County, Nebraska. The city of Omaha was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1857....

 annexed Benson in 1917 the suburb did not have any parks. As the community grew there was a need for a large park. In 1931, the city acquired land north of Military Avenue and it became Benson Park. A 9-hole golf course opened in the park that year, but was closed in 1947. The golf course reopened in the 1960s with an 18 hole golf course. The Omaha Tornado of 1975

Omaha Tornado of 1975

The 1975 Omaha tornado is a violent tornado that hit the Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area. It was part of a two-day outbreak that struck the Midwest and Southern United States on May 6–7, 1975, ending in the very early hours of May 8 across Louisiana. South Dakota, Iowa, Texas and Mississippi were...

lifted into the clouds at Benson Park, between the ice rink and lake. The park was renovated in 1999, deepening the lake and adding trails and sidewalks.

Features

Benson Park has a lagoon used for fishing and sightseeing. The park lies in a wide valley that offers views of the surrounding hills. The ice rink is located at 69th and Military Avenue, and is open from November through March. The park also has a golf course located at 5333 North 72nd Street.