NP Dodge Memorial Park

(NOTE: The NP Dodge Park Pavilion is currently closed because of the riverfront flooding. I called the parks department and they said it may be reopened in the future, so I wanted to sing its praises for when it reopens!)We held our wedding reception at the NP Dodge Park Pavilion. It has a wood cabin ambiance that fit perfectly with our naturey/rustic theme, and the best part - it was HUGE. It easily accommodated our 100+ guests, tables, chairs, dance floor, Photo Booth, etc!The best part is that it's literally just the venue rental, which may sound weird to say that's the "best part" - but it means that you can use your own caterer and decor, and not have to get stuck with all the set vendors that so many venues only allow you to use.There is also a cute little pond outside, that was perfect for a few more formal group shots, during golden hour.They allow you to have beer and wine for your event with the license you get, but that was fine with the guests we had. There's also a whole kitchen and bar area that was perfect for our caterer's needs.If they do open up the Pavilion again in the future, and you're looking for a cost-effective and beautiful event space, definitely check it out!

Attended a wedding here and it was just the most lovely venue! The bride told me they chose it because it was open late and would accommodate the right amount of guests plus they'd allow any catering company and had a full liquor license- several places she'd checked in Omaha couldn't do all these things. My only complaint was that parking was a bit tricky (not well marked) and it was muddy outside, but I can't blame the weather on the park. The place has an upscale rustic vibe that went perfectly with the look & feel of the cozy country-esque wedding the bridal couple were going for. There was a roaring fire and plenty of benches to sit on. When it got too chilly, it was easy for guests to lower the garage-type sliding doors. One section of the venue was the dance floor and it easily accommodated the DJ and his booth and dozens of dancers. It was a great night!

This is a large park located on the Missouri River. It is a 445 acre park, with a lot of soccer, baseball and softball fields. In the summer you can usually find a lot of them in use and full on the weekends with various leagues. As it is located on the river, there is also a boat launch and marina. They have a playground for the kids, and do offer primitive camping. The park is also connected to the Omaha Riverfront Trail offering paved hiking and biking. In addition there are some trails along the river behind the marina, but I don't know if they are 'approved' trails. While it is a nice size park, with a lot of green space, I feel it could be so much better having such a large riverfront area. The camping is also very basic, small, and doesn't even offer river views. I am very close to the park, so it's not like I would camp there, but I just think it could be so much better. There needs to be more amenities or riverfront offerings to create a bigger draw for this place, yet is still a nice place to enjoy some time outside.