Post by SledMaster on Feb 4, 2011 18:05:32 GMT -6
After the kids have settled down from opening their presents, and their new toys are scattered around the living room, take them outside for an awesome sledding experience. Sledding hills are abundant in many parts of the country, but if you're stuck in Lincoln, Nebraska, you know that there aren't many hills around you. Fear not! There are at least four prime locations for sledding within, or in the vicinity of Lincoln that will delight kids young and old.
Arnold Heights Park
In the far northwest corner of Lincoln, in the sleepy little neighborhood of Arnold Heights, sits Arnold Heights Park. On the west side of the Lincoln Airport, your kids can watch planes take off and land while they're sledding down a huge hill. Arguably one of the tallest hills in Lincoln, this hill has several faces that range from gentle slopes to some decent sledding surfaces. Older kids will enjoy the long slope from near the top of the hill's east side, down to the fence line below. If you're lucky enough to be in the best location, and the snow or ice is just right, you can make it between the large gap in the fences and sled all the way to the street. The shoveled sidewalk usually provides a nice stopping point at the bottom of the hill, but fast sledders have been known to go into the street from time to time. The walk back up the hill will take a couple of minutes, but it can easily be done over and over again. Just be careful of the electric pole on the north side of the fence gap! For younger kids and their parents, the bottom of the hill's east side is a mini sled ride down a steep slope, without the fear of going into the street. If you're using the bottom of the east side, however, watch out for older kids riding the entire slope. There is also the southeast side of the hill that younger kids may enjoy, and it is a fairly gentle slope down to the schoolyard below.
To get to Arnold Heights Park take I-80 to West 48th and go north to Superior Street, take a left, and you'll find the parking lot on the left before hitting 54th Street. Saucers seem to be the most prevalent sled used on this hill. The best times to go are after a heavy snow has been sitting, and has melted and froze a couple of times in order for it to have a harder sled-able surface. Arnold Heights Park isn't as popular as some of the other parks being mentioned in this guide, so you may have the hill mostly to yourself!
Pioneers Park
Pioneers Park, also on Lincoln's west side, boasts its own sled run which will get your kids up to a nice sledding speed prior to hitting the surface of the hill. The hill is fairly long, and not quite as steep as Arnold Heights, but is still a lot of fun. Because of the sled run, many types of sleds work well in Pioneers Park. However, it is one of the more popular sledding destinations in Lincoln, so it's often very busy. There are other locations within Pioneer Park that you can try out, though they are likely to be smaller. Quick tip: if the gates are unlocked, Pioneer Park's amphitheater has a great surface for ice sledding! To get to Pioneers Park, take West Van Dorn Street past South Coddington Avenue. Turn left at the corrections center into Pioneers Park. Go through the roundabout to the parking lot and pick a spot. The sled run is immediately west of the parking lot.
Holmes Lake Park
Perhaps the best sledding hill in Lincoln can be found at Holmes Lake Park on Lincoln's east side. The dam on the west side of the lake has a slope that is simply amazing for sledding. Be sure to try it out or watch other kids sledding it before taking smaller children, as snow conditions can vary enough to make this hill appropriate or totally unsafe for small kids. Holmes Lake Park is another very popular sledding spot for Lincoln, so there may be a lot of people there at any given time. It's off of South 70th Street, between Pioneers Blvd and East Van Dorn Street. To get to the sledding location, you'll have to head west into the park from the southernmost entrance and park in one of the parking lots, preferably the observatory parking lot. Next, walk across the bridge to the lake's west side. You'll see lots of people sledding. It's hard to miss!
Mahoney State Park
The final sledding spot for Lincoln is actually a little east of Lincoln off of I-80. Mahoney State Park has some prime sledding hills for families. While you'll have to pay admission to get inside, the fee is very reasonable, and there are also cabins and accommodations within and near the park if you want to turn this into a mini-vacation. Mahoney State Park also offers sled and toboggan rentals, in case yours breaks or if you only brought sleds for your kids and decide that you, yourself want to give it a try. At nearly halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, Mahoney State Park can be quite busy on the best sledding days, but it's well worth the drive! To get there from Lincoln, head east on I-80 towards Omaha, to mile marker 426. Exit I-80 and take a left onto Highway 66 towards Ashland, and turn right into Mahoney State Park. Pay for admission, and get ready for a fun-filled afternoon!
Source: R. D. Lamont sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-7458402
Arnold Heights Park
In the far northwest corner of Lincoln, in the sleepy little neighborhood of Arnold Heights, sits Arnold Heights Park. On the west side of the Lincoln Airport, your kids can watch planes take off and land while they're sledding down a huge hill. Arguably one of the tallest hills in Lincoln, this hill has several faces that range from gentle slopes to some decent sledding surfaces. Older kids will enjoy the long slope from near the top of the hill's east side, down to the fence line below. If you're lucky enough to be in the best location, and the snow or ice is just right, you can make it between the large gap in the fences and sled all the way to the street. The shoveled sidewalk usually provides a nice stopping point at the bottom of the hill, but fast sledders have been known to go into the street from time to time. The walk back up the hill will take a couple of minutes, but it can easily be done over and over again. Just be careful of the electric pole on the north side of the fence gap! For younger kids and their parents, the bottom of the hill's east side is a mini sled ride down a steep slope, without the fear of going into the street. If you're using the bottom of the east side, however, watch out for older kids riding the entire slope. There is also the southeast side of the hill that younger kids may enjoy, and it is a fairly gentle slope down to the schoolyard below.
To get to Arnold Heights Park take I-80 to West 48th and go north to Superior Street, take a left, and you'll find the parking lot on the left before hitting 54th Street. Saucers seem to be the most prevalent sled used on this hill. The best times to go are after a heavy snow has been sitting, and has melted and froze a couple of times in order for it to have a harder sled-able surface. Arnold Heights Park isn't as popular as some of the other parks being mentioned in this guide, so you may have the hill mostly to yourself!
Pioneers Park
Pioneers Park, also on Lincoln's west side, boasts its own sled run which will get your kids up to a nice sledding speed prior to hitting the surface of the hill. The hill is fairly long, and not quite as steep as Arnold Heights, but is still a lot of fun. Because of the sled run, many types of sleds work well in Pioneers Park. However, it is one of the more popular sledding destinations in Lincoln, so it's often very busy. There are other locations within Pioneer Park that you can try out, though they are likely to be smaller. Quick tip: if the gates are unlocked, Pioneer Park's amphitheater has a great surface for ice sledding! To get to Pioneers Park, take West Van Dorn Street past South Coddington Avenue. Turn left at the corrections center into Pioneers Park. Go through the roundabout to the parking lot and pick a spot. The sled run is immediately west of the parking lot.
Holmes Lake Park
Perhaps the best sledding hill in Lincoln can be found at Holmes Lake Park on Lincoln's east side. The dam on the west side of the lake has a slope that is simply amazing for sledding. Be sure to try it out or watch other kids sledding it before taking smaller children, as snow conditions can vary enough to make this hill appropriate or totally unsafe for small kids. Holmes Lake Park is another very popular sledding spot for Lincoln, so there may be a lot of people there at any given time. It's off of South 70th Street, between Pioneers Blvd and East Van Dorn Street. To get to the sledding location, you'll have to head west into the park from the southernmost entrance and park in one of the parking lots, preferably the observatory parking lot. Next, walk across the bridge to the lake's west side. You'll see lots of people sledding. It's hard to miss!
Mahoney State Park
The final sledding spot for Lincoln is actually a little east of Lincoln off of I-80. Mahoney State Park has some prime sledding hills for families. While you'll have to pay admission to get inside, the fee is very reasonable, and there are also cabins and accommodations within and near the park if you want to turn this into a mini-vacation. Mahoney State Park also offers sled and toboggan rentals, in case yours breaks or if you only brought sleds for your kids and decide that you, yourself want to give it a try. At nearly halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, Mahoney State Park can be quite busy on the best sledding days, but it's well worth the drive! To get there from Lincoln, head east on I-80 towards Omaha, to mile marker 426. Exit I-80 and take a left onto Highway 66 towards Ashland, and turn right into Mahoney State Park. Pay for admission, and get ready for a fun-filled afternoon!
Source: R. D. Lamont sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-7458402