Pioneers Park Nature Center

Our Mission

The mission of Pioneers Park Nature Center is to interpret the natural history of Nebraska and the central Great Plains; to promote the enjoyment, appreciation and awareness of our natural environment; to practice and foster a conservation ethic; and to provide a sanctuary for wildlife and a peaceful retreat for people.

History of Pioneers Park Nature Center

Pioneers Park Nature Center (PPNC) is owned and operated by the City of Lincoln’s Parks and Recreation Department. The Nature Center was dedicated on May 21st, 1963 as Chet Ager Bird and Wildlife Nature Study Center.  

Located within Lincoln’s Pioneers Park, this area was originally set aside as a 40-acre wildlife sanctuary with one paid naturalist to lead tours. Presently, PPNC includes two interpretive facilities, 668 acres of woodland, wetland, and prairie habitats, and over ten miles of trails. Trained volunteers and staff lead natural history interpretive programs for more than 12,000 students, youth groups and families annually.

In the 1930’s, three small ponds were dug on the land that would become the Nature Center with the hope they would be a waterfowl refuge. The largest of these, Heron Wetland, dried up in the drought years of 2002–05 and was dredged in 2005 awaiting returning rains.

Sixteen acres of formerly farmed city property were acquired in 1975 across Haines Branch Creek and were joined to the original acres with a suspension bridge.

In 1984 a long-range plan was developed calling for the restoration of wetland, woodland, and prairie habitats with native plants, and for developing exhibits that would interpret native wildlife and regional ecology. The original long-range plan was updated in 1995 and again in 2001.

In 1985, an additional 80 acres were added to the Nature Center as the result of a study that eliminated the existing outdoor zoo. Exotic animals were traded or sold and new exhibits of native fox, wild turkey, bison, American elk, and white-tailed deer were completed.

The Chet Ager Building was built in 1963. A second interpretive facility, the Prairie Building, is located across the park road to the north, adjacent to a restored tallgrass prairie. The Prairie Building was constructed in three phases. The Education Wing, completed in 1990; the Malinovskis Auditorium, completed in 1997; and the exhibit/office wing, incorporating many green building features, completed in 2007. The green building features found in the Prairie Building include straw-bale construction, geo-thermal heating and air conditioning, the use of recycled and low VOC materials and a green roof. The Prairie Building addition was the first building in Lincoln to be awarded LEED Certification. 

The Nature Center acquired 56 acres in 1996 as a donation from the Robert Powell family, neighboring property owners. It was named the “Verley Prairie” in honor of Robert’s uncle Ben Verley. From David and Bonnie Martin, neighboring property owners west of the Nature Center, we acquired, through donation and purchase, 157 acres of pastureland in the fall of 1997. Located north of the Hands-on Prairie, it is known as the “Martin Prairie” and extends all the way to W. Van Dorn St. In March of 1999, we purchased an additional 80 acres from the Martin family, now known as Hilltop Prairie. In 2005, 228 acres were added to the Martin Prairie extending it to West Van Dorn and SW 56th St. This purchase was made possible with the cooperation of several partners.

Modern Buildings

Chet Ager Building

Exhibits in the Chet Ager Building provide information about the plants and animals of wetlands and woodlands in the region. Large windows overlook Heron Wetland and a garden with plantings, feeders, and water features that attract a wide variety of birds. The Louise Evans Doole Herb Garden and Children’s Garden are nearby.

Prairie Building

Plants and animals of the Great Plains and prairie ecosystems are highlighted in exhibits at the Prairie Building. The building includes many green building(PDF, 66KB) features including straw-bale construction, geo-thermal heating and air conditioning, the use of recycled and low VOC materials and a green roof. It was the first building in Lincoln to be awarded LEED certification. The building is surrounded by prairie plants, including a labeled demonstration garden area.

The Prairie Building contains:

• Public restrooms and drinking fountain
• Nature Preschool classrooms
• Nature Center administration offices
• Gift Shop with snacks and a wide variety of nature-related items
• Malinovskis Auditorium (rentable space)

Lynn Johnson Nature Education Building

The Education Building, built in 2020, provides a learning lab for students and program participants to engage with the outdoors. The Lincoln Parks Foundation helped to secure funding for this project. Contributors include the Thelma and Hugo Aspegren Trust and the Mildred Barret estate. This building is open to the public only by reservation.

Historic Buildings

Cunningham School

The Cunningham School (Saunders County District 113) was originally located 7 miles north and 2 miles west of Valparaiso, Nebraska. It was used as a schoolhouse from the 1880's to 1968. In 1975, the State Fair Board purchased it from Adolph Klimert for use in the Heritage Village attraction at the State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. The schoolhouse was moved to the Nature Center on November 1st, 2009. Standing on a hill at the edge of the Martin Prairie, the school is open to the public only by appointment.

Schoolchildren can visit the school and spend a day as they might have in the late 1800’s. If you are interested in this experience for your class or home school group, contact Lincoln Public Schools. 

Hudson Cabin

“Thomas Jefferson Hudson was born in 1826 in Indiana. After several westerly moves, he rented an Otoe County farm in 1861. Two years later the Hudsons acquired a quarter section of land, through the Homestead Act, south of the village of Lancaster. On his arrival he noted that his only true neighbors were living in two dugouts on Salt Creek. Oak logs were hauled in from near Germantown (now Garland, NE) in the fall of 1863, milled flooring lumber came from Nebraska City, and the almost-unheard-of luxury of wood shingles came from McKisick’s Island east of the Missouri River northeast of Peru, Nebraska. 

The cabin was noted as being the “largest and grandest house, and the only shingled roof, upon the whole site of [Lancaster] out on Salt Creek.”

The Village of Lancaster became the City of Lincoln, and the homestead became part of the Irvingdale neighborhood on South 10th Street. Over time the cabin was enlarged and built upon, concealing its nature behind more modern construction. In 1964 the “buried” cabin was discovered during a remodeling project. Lincoln Mayor Dean Peterson "saved it” by purchasing it for $5,000. The Junior Chamber of Commerce set out to raise funds to reconstruct it inside a new structure in Van Dorn Park, but the plan failed. The cabin was disassembled and stored in a warehouse until 1974, when the Lincoln Parks Department transferred title to the Nebraska Historical Society. With the aid of funds appropriated by the legislature, the cabin was reconstructed as part of Heritage Village on the fairgrounds.”
- Jim McKee, Lincoln Journal Star, November 2009 

On June 22, 2010, the Hudson Cabin was moved to Pioneers Park Nature Center. It is used during 4th-grade Prairie Immersion hikes to give students a sense of the size of a ‘grand’ log house in the early days of our city – it measures 14 x 16 feet! The cabin is open to the public only during special events. 

Gardens

The gardens that surround the Prairie Building are designed to help visitors appreciate the beauty and diversity of prairie plants. Many are drought tolerant choices for home gardens. Labels allow identification of plants that can be seen in our prairie.

Louise Evans Doole Herb Garden

Located north of the Chet Ager Building, was established in 1968. Mrs. Doole was an editor of The Nebraska Farmer and author of several books on herbs. A complete renovation of the garden was undertaken in 2003 using funds from an endowment given by the Doole family, and a Greenspace Initiative Grant administered by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. The garden has grown from 16 herbs to a display of over 150, many with identifying labels. Staff and volunteers perform the day-to-day garden maintenance.

Irene and George Alexander Bird Garden

is located west of the Chet Ager Building and was established the spring of 2012. The garden is a bird sanctuary and demonstrative backyard wildlife habitat filled with feeders, a water feature and variety of flowering plants and shrubs. Visitors can view the garden through the windows of the Chet Ager Building or from the bird blind surrounding it. 

The Children’s Garden

A raised-bed vegetable and flower garden that is planted and tended to by children participating in Nature Center programming. In addition to developing their motor skills, they learn about plant life cycles. Everyone, adults and children alike, is welcome to explore and enjoy the plantings.

Other Facilities

Edna Shields Natural Play Area

Come out and play in the dirt, create a masterpiece with sticks and pods, crawl through a log, dig in the sand, build a fort and have some fun! The area is sensory-rich and a treasure trove of experiential learning, imagination and wonder.

Research has found that frequent, unstructured play in natural environments is a strong positive influence on the developmental needs of young children. Benches are available for parents while children spend hours crafting their own activities using natural materials. 

The Malinovskis Auditorium

A flexible and peaceful meeting space offering stunning views of the prairie and pond. It's ideal for professional gatherings, training seminars, retreats, and milestone celebrations.

Capacity

80 people (auditorium-style seating) or 60 people (tables and chairs)

Key Features

• Scenic views of the wetland, prairie, and bison pastures
• Kitchenette with refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and coffee urn
• Microphone, projector, and 14-foot-wide projection screen
• Podium, easel, and flip chart available
• Adjacent covered deck for additional space or outdoor use
• Free public Wi-Fi
• ADA-accessible paths and restrooms

Reserve Auditorium

Lynn Johnson Nature Education Building

A versatile venue located on a hillside overlooking Heron Wetland and the bison pastures. Its indoor and outdoor spaces are perfect for intimate meetings, workshops, and celebrations.

Capacity

24 people (tables and chairs)

Key Features

• Scenic views of the pond, prairie, and bison pastures
• Kitchenette with refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and serving counter
• Concrete patio partially covered by a pergola
• Large overhead doors for open-air experiences
• Adjacent outdoor space available for additional room or activities
• Free public Wi-Fi
• ADA-accessible sidewalk and restrooms

Reserve Education Building

The Nature Center is home to several pieces of art including steel sculptures, painted murals and a revolving gallery space. 

Four hand-crafted metal art panels mark the entrance to the Nature Center.  The welcome sign features a bison head, and three tall cor-ten steel structures celebrate the plants and animals of the habitats found within the center: prairie, wetlands and woodlands. They were designed by staff member Janice Wishnow and created by Jake Balcom of Mettle Design.

A steel sculpture featuring three butterflies is placed near the preschool garden.  It was donated by preschool families in memory of a preschool mother, and created by Ron Swanson of Out of Hand Metal Arts.  

Inside the Prairie Building, murals by Mark Marcuson depict fall and early summer prairies and an art wall features changing displays of the work of local artists. 

In 2009, the Nature Center received two pieces of art designed and fabricated by Carl Weiss of Weiss Studios and Gardens, Springfield, Nebraska. A fountain, displayed seasonally, was added to the Louise Evans Doole Herb Garden, donated by the Doole Family Foundation. At the entrance to the Prairie Building, “Curly”, a bison bench, greets visitors. 

In 2015, Prairie Flowers, a bronze statue by George Lundeen, a native Nebraskan, was added on the west side of the auditorium.

Celebrate your child's special event surrounded by the beauty of nature at the Nature Center! Our party programming is designed for children in grades K–6, offering a fun and educational experience. Choose from a variety of themes and select a time that works best for you.

Reserve a Children's Party at PPNC

A party reservation includes:

• Rental space in the Malinovskis Auditorium for two hours
• Thematic guided hike or activity (~30 minutes) for up to 15 children + 5 adults
• Special gift for the guest of honor
• Party bags for each child
• Time for you to have your own activities and refreshments

Available Times

• Saturdays 10:00 AM–12:00 PM  OR  1:30–3:30 PM
• Sundays 1:30–3:30 PM

Available Themes

• Reptiles Rock: Snakes can slither and shed their skins. Turtles tote a shell that is part of their skeleton. We’ll discover lots more neat things about reptiles as we meet them up close and hike to where they might live.
• Amazing Birds: They fly. They sing. They have beautiful colors. Their beaks and feet tell a story about how they live. We’ll see how many birds we can see and hear as we hike.
• Marvelous Mammals: Some have horns. Some have antlers. Some have tracks that look almost human. Some dig holes. We’ll hike to find signs of the mammals that live around us and visit the bison.
• Nature's Scavenger Hunt: What did I find? What animal is it from? What story does it tell? We’ll hide some special things for children to find and reveal all sorts of interesting things about their discoveries.
• Insect Investigations: They are the most numerous critters on earth. They hop and fly, buzz and whine, live above ground and below. We’ll see how many we can find as we hike around the Nature Center while observing their interesting lives. (Available only between May 15 and October 15.)

The Nature Center is greatly assisted and enriched by its volunteers. In return, volunteers meet staff and other volunteers who enjoy nature and who care about the earth and about wildlife.  Please email naturecenter@lincoln.ne.gov or call 402-441-7895 to discuss setting up a service or volunteering opportunity that fits your strengths, interests, and schedule.

Herb Garden 

Help staff care for the herb garden. Workdays include several afternoons in April to clean up the garden, a garden planting party during the 2nd week of May, 8:30 - 10:30 AM sessions on a weekday chosen by the group weekly in late May and June, every other week in July and August, and a garden potting up party in October.   

Prairie Garden 

Help staff care for the prairie gardens. Saturday morning workdays from 8:30 - noon, April through September (need is greater in May through early June, then tapers off later in season). 

Special Events 

The Nature Center sponsors several special events. These could not be presented without volunteer help. They give volunteers an opportunity to give assistance with a one-time-only commitment. Past events include. Wild Adventure Day, Herb Festival, Prairie Run, and the Wild Fall Festival. 

Family or Workplace Group Volunteers

 Individual Scouts and Scout Troops

 Service-Learning and Internships

 Court-Appointed Community Service

Please email naturecenter@lincoln.ne.gov or call 402-441-7895 to discuss setting up a service or volunteering opportunity that fits your strengths, interests, and schedule.

Lincoln's parks and public gardens have provided beautiful backdrops for generations of family photos. When you or your photographer are taking pictures, we ask that you be mindful of, and minimize disruption to, other park users and garden visitors. Please also take care to avoid damaging any flowers, plantings, turf, or park property.

If your photo shoot is large and/or it could disrupt normal park or public garden operations, you make need to seek a Special Use Permit. If fees for photography services are collected on site, a Permit to Conduct Business may be required. Wedding reservations are available at our wedding designated sites. Please contact 402-441-7847, Ext. 0, or email parks@lincoln.ne.gov, for additional information regarding both Special Use Permit and wedding reservations.

Thank you and enjoy those beautiful pictures!

Fund Raising Program Launched

We have been fortunate to be able to provide a dynamic Nature Center that offers free admission and a wide range of programming. This wouldn't be possible without tremendous support from our many partners in the community. Financial support is needed now more than ever to keep the tradition going. The Hugo A. and Thelma Aspegren Charitable Trust and the Lower Platte South NRD have helped fund school hikes. Lincoln Cares along with many other partners helped fund the Heritage School and Hudson Cabin projects, the most recent land purchase, and the green addition to the Prairie Building. 

The Friends of the Nature Center have supported all of these things as well as equipment and art purchases and a scholarship program. The Doole Family Trust has provided an endowment to maintain the Louise Evans Doole Herb Garden. There have been many other generous donors, and we are asking you to consider becoming one of them. Your participation in a sponsoring a program or a garden will continue to make the Nature Center the amazing place it is. More information can be found at Lincoln Parks Foundation.

Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center

The Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit with the mission to promote and support the development, programming and operation of the Nature Center. The Friends has contributed to the construction of a new deck on the Prairie Building, and the construction of the Prairie Building and its exhibits.

The proceeds from annual fundraising events and membership dues provide support for school hikes and scholarships for Nature Center camps and preschool.

To learn more about upcoming Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center events or to get involved visit: lnknaturecenter.org or email: FOPPNC@gmail.com.