Lake Cunningham, or the “C”, is a 390-acre lake surrounded by a 1,050-acre park tucked away in north-central Omaha. Many Omahans are unaware of this hidden gem conveniently located in the heart of the city. The “C” encourages people to take a moment to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life and encounter a beautiful nature experience.
Under new management, the Lake Cunningham Development Trust (LCDT) now operates the park and campground in partnership with the City of Omaha. The LCDT focuses on safety, cleanliness, activation, youth programming, and providing user groups of all backgrounds and ages with a memorable outdoor experience. This season the “C” is focused on activation by offering a new family-friendly concert series, yoga in the park, food trucks, bringing back new and previous community events, and partnering with other organizations to offer new experiences.
“This project has been one that is so special for our community,” said Brook Bench, Executive Director for the LCDT. “To have the philanthropic backing from over 30 major donors, we have been able to create a mission and vision for this park even beyond my years here. Lake Cunningham is becoming a utilized asset and by activating it, keeping it clean, safe, and family-friendly, we have begun to see this park come back to life and reach its potential.”
Lake Cunningham not only offers elevated camping, but it is partnering with Prairie Fireflies to offer a glamping luxury experience for those who want to camp in style and comfort. Lake C is also featuring a new park concert series that runs through September called “Rock the C” for campers and the general public to enjoy a night of free live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, and more. Numerous trail run events occur throughout the year as well. Other activities include horseback riding, yoga classes, paddleboarding, archery range, 18-hole disc golf course, fishing, and no-wake boating.
An important piece of the LCDT organization is providing underserved youth and working with community organizations to provide a camp-like program during the summer and over the year. Kids have the opportunity to come out to Lake C and partake in outdoor adventures like kayaking, fishing, hiking, fire building, archery, and biking. Whether you’re looking for a new outdoor experience, community event, or you want to disconnect and enjoy the beautiful lake and park views, you can stay up to date with all of the “C’s” park events on its website at
www.explorethec.com.
