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Lake C Headlines

News Release: Earth Day Celebrations

Lake Cunningham Partners with Local Organizations to Give Back and Celebrate Earth Day at the “C”

NorthStar Foundation tree planting and park cleanup hosted by the Greater Omaha Area Trail Runners (G.O.A.T.z)

Lake Cunningham (the “C”), a 390-acre lake surrounded by a 1,050-acre park located in north-central Omaha opened last August after undergoing 25 million in philanthropic improvements. The “C” is celebrating Earth Day in more than one way. NorthStar Foundation, a local organization focused on building academic success and experiential learning is teaming up with the “C” to educate youth about Earth Day and the vital role of properly maintaining trees in the park. Twenty-five boys from NorthStar will be guided in planting four donated trees, generously provided by Yard Market for Friday’s Earth Day. The event will commence with educational discussion, and planting of the trees, and will conclude with roasting s’mores around a campfire. This year, Lake Cunningham is focused on growing the youth programming at the park and giving kids an educational, nature experience at a beautiful lake and recreation area.

“We are thrilled to have NorthStar at Lake Cunningham for an Earth Day celebration. This is considered the “kickoff” event for NorthStar at the “C” for outdoor educational activities, we have them coming back several times this summer and throughout the year. We look forward to our continued partnership and activation of the park with youth and can’t wait to work with many more groups like NorthStar this season and in the future!”- Lura Holst, Programming Manager

Event Details:
Date: Friday, April 22nd
Time: 5:10pm to 6:10pm
Location: Lake Cunningham, Entrance #3 (9600 Garvin Road, Omaha, NE 68122) at the picnic shelter

Rolling right into Saturday to continue the lake’s Earth Day festivities, the Greater Omaha Area Trail runners, also known as the G.O.A.T.z are giving back and hosting a Lake C Park cleanup. The G.O.A.T.z mission is to promote local trails, grow the number of trail runners in Omaha, and support trail advocacy. Prior to Lake Cunningham being drained for Zebra mussels in 2018, the G.O.A.T.z hosted their annual trail run at Lake Cunningham where up to 500 participants ran the nature trails at the lake. Last year was the first year Lake Cunningham welcomed back the G.O.A.Tz race, a long-time partner of the C, and we look forward to seeing them out here again in 2022. The G.O.A.T.z will be focused on clean up around the outside of the park entrances.

“We feel grateful for groups like the G.O.A.T.z who step up, give back, and are invested in keeping the C clean. The 6.2 miles of concrete trail put in the park has heavily expanded the use of park-goers at the lake and therefore any additional help from volunteers is always appreciated.” -Brook Bench, Executive Director

All information on the G.O.A.T.z run and park events can be found on our Events page.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 23rd
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Meeting at the lighthouse in Entrance #1 (8965 State Street, Omaha, NE 68122) and then dispersing to four different zones on the outskirts of each entrance of the park.