Sophia’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 border between Iowa and Nebraska, this stunning botanical garden is the first thing drivers see after crossing 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 stones for the foundations of houses built during the city’s early growth. After the quarry closed, the city bought the land and started dumping compacted garbage bales into the ravines, continuing until 1982, when dirt was used to cover the landfill. 

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 unique gardens and a conservatory that showcases both native and non-native plants. Serving the communities of Omaha and nearby areas, this urban oasis provides a biodiverse space for conservation, education, and recreation. Garden staff and volunteers work to protect endangered and imperiled plants of the Great Plains 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 to foster a space where children can learn about and experience nature in imaginative ways. In collaboration with school districts throughout the Omaha metro area, field trips bring thousands of kids to the gardens every year for hands-on learning. Working closely with the Omaha Public Schools Department of Curriculum and Learning, children’s programs are aligned with science curriculum standards for grades K-12. Summer camps, winter day camps, group tours, and birthday parties are also available. 

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 torn down. Lauritzen Gardens contracted The Architectural Offices, based in Omaha, to develop plans for the new 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. 

Sophia’s Play Garden officially opened to the public on May 26, 2025. The 1.3-acre children’s garden offers a larger, more interactive, and natural educational experience for kids. With 13 learning and activity areas, children 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, reflecting the community it supports. These spaces provide valuable insights into urban living, the land’s history, sustainability, and various plants.  

The water play area, Hager Family Springs, provides a refreshing spot to cool off, featuring many interactive elements, such as manual water pumps and buildable mini wooden dams. Designed by Waters Edge Aquatic Design, the natural stream-like water feature starts with a gentle waterfall that flows along the ground, surrounded by attractive rockscapes with various sprays and misters. It also benefits Lauritzen Gardens 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 greywater system. 

Sophia’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 years to come. 

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