Sofia’s Play Garden Blooms at Lauritzen Gardens: Inside Omaha’s Newest Nature Adventure for Children

Patrick Liston

  • Aerial view of Sophia's Play Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Aerial view of Hager Family Springs at Sophia's Play Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Aerial view of Hager Family Springs at Sophia's Play Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Hager Family Springs at Sophia's Play Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Hager Family Springs at Sophia's Play Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Hager Family Springs at Sophia's Play Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Hager Family Springs at Sophia's Play Garden at Laurizen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.

South of Downtown Omaha, Nebraska, and north of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, overlooking the Missouri River, lies Lauritzen Gardens: a 100-acre public garden filled with accessible, educational, and inspiring nature experiences. Located along the Iowa-Nebraska border, this stunning botanical garden is the first thing drivers see after crossing over the Missouri River on I-80.

The gardens first opened in 1994 as the Omaha Botanical Gardens on a site that was once a limestone quarry and landfill. The quarry operated from 1854 until the early 20th century, supplying stone for the foundations of houses built during the city’s early growth. After the quarry closed, the city purchased the land and began dumping compacted garbage bales into the ravines until 1982, when the landfill was covered with dirt. By 1991, when the site was selected for the development of botanical gardens, it was covered with grass, and fundraising efforts began. After the funds were raised, flowers were planted in 1993 and bloomed the following spring. When the visitor and education center opened in 2001, the gardens were renamed Lauritzen Gardens. 

Today, Lauritzen Gardens features over 20 distinct gardens and a conservatory showcasing both native and non-native plants. Serving the communities of Omaha and surrounding areas, this urban oasis provides a biodiverse space for conservation, education, and recreation. Garden staff and volunteers work to protect endangered and imperiled Great Plains plants through fieldwork, seed banking, and scientific research. They also organize seasonal events, exhibits, and programs for people of all ages. 

At the heart of Lauritzen Gardens’ mission is fostering a space where children can learn about and experience nature in imaginative ways. In collaboration with school districts across the Omaha metro area, field trips bring thousands of students to the gardens each year for hands-on learning. Working closely with the Omaha Public Schools Department of Curriculum and Learning, children’s programs align with science curriculum standards for grades K-12. Summer camps, winter day camps, group tours, and birthday parties are also available. 

In 2022, a new horticulture center with four large production greenhouses was built on the site of the former children’s garden. This freed up space adjacent to the visitor and education center, where the temporary hoop-house greenhouses were removed. Following the closure of the former children’s garden, Lauritzen Gardens hired The Architectural Offices, based in Omaha, to develop plans for a new and improved children’s garden. Fifteen donors exclusively funded the $13 million project, including Polina and Bob Schlott, who named the garden in honor of their daughter. The project broke ground in 2022. 

Sofia’s Play Garden officially opened to the public on May 26, 2025. This 1.3-acre children’s garden offers a larger, more interactive, and more natural educational experience for kids than the previous children’s garden. With 13 unique learning and activity areas, guests can explore a plant petting zoo, a building zone, a puppet theater, a spider-web climbing area, a lookout over the Missouri River, a little free library, indoor and outdoor classrooms, and much more! Artwork by local artists portrays the region’s history and reflects the values of the community it supports. Each activity area offers valuable insights into the land’s history, urban living, sustainability, and various native and non-native plants.  

Hager Family Springs, the water play area within Sofia’s Play Garden, offers a refreshing spot to cool off and features interactive elements, including manual water pumps and buildable wooden dams. Through these hands-on components, kids learn how water moves, flows, and shapes the world around them. Whether they’re building dams to alter water flow, racing rubber ducks, pumping water into buckets, or just splashing around, the springs inspire creative play and collaboration. Designed by Waters Edge Aquatic Design, the stream-like water play area begins with a gentle waterfall from a large flat stone slab that cascades along the ground, surrounded by various stones containing sprays and misters. The four custom stones were created by Rocky’s Stone & Design, which also provided the 500 tons of gabion that support the children’s garden from below. Two metal statues of children playing alongside the stream provide an inviting visual, encouraging kids to explore everything the space has to offer.

The natural design of Hager Family Springs is inspired by the rivers and waterways of the Great Plains Region. Uniquely, the springs serve Lauritzen Gardens as a whole by cycling water through the play area, collecting it in a series of ponds and wetlands, and using it for irrigation, ultimately ending in a graywater system. This innovative water-recycling method sets the springs apart from traditional splash pads, providing a real-world demonstration of resource stewardship that complements Lauritzen Gardens’ broader focus on environmental conservation and sustainability. Thanks to collaborative efforts, Hager Family Springs at Sofia’s Play Garden was spotlighted in PRB+ Magazine’s 2025 Project Portfolio and earned the Readers’ Choice award for Best Investment in Aquatics.

Sofia’s Play Garden offers a nature-filled adventure at Lauritzen Gardens that has already caught the region’s attention and become a valued addition to Omaha’s expanding tourist attractions. The garden will serve both the City of Omaha and the Great Plains for many years to come.

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