MECA reflects four years after renovated Gene Leahy Mall opening

OMAHA, Neb. —

Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority expects its ten millionth visitor at Omaha’s renovated Riverfront later this summer.

Gene Leahy Mall in downtown Omaha reopened four years ago Wednesday, while the Riverfront’s two other parks opened in August 2023.

MECA VP of Capital Projects and Katie Bassett, who designed the Riverfront, reflected on what she’s seen since the reopening.

“It’s really the community that has made the Riverfront a special place to be, the users that come here every day to frequent the playgrounds or walk the trails, the events that we’ve had,” she said. “We’re in awe and often overwhelmed by the number of people who are here on a regular basis in the most positive of ways.”

Over the past four years, the Riverfront has hosted 2,000 free events, Bassett said. This weekend, the Omaha Symphony will perform on Friday and Saturday, leading up to a 15-minute fireworks show on the Fourth of July.