In 1887 the Omaha Bicycling Club was responsible for expanding Athletic Park at North 20th and Lake Streets to include a bicycle racing track, and there were other early trails throughout the city. However, Omaha was completely devoid of trails for several years during the 20th century leading up to early 1989. That year the city began developing the Keystone trail, and since then the city of Omaha has developed approximately of paved recreational trails, and another of trails are scheduled for completion within the next eight years. On September 28, 2008 the trails in Omaha were connected to trails in Council Bluffs, Iowa by way of the new Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. A 15- to wide "S"-shaped bridge spans more than across the Missouri River, connecting Omaha's Riverfront Trail with Playland Park in Council Bluffs.
Benefits of the trails
A recent study focused on the benefits of Omaha's trails found that respondents generally perceive the trails to be economic benefits, with almost two-thirds of those surveyed reporting the trails would increase the selling price of their home. There is no widespread concern for safety issues on the trails, as trespassing, theft and vandalism by trail users are relatively infrequent events. A large majority of residents living along the trails think there is a positive relationship between the trails and neighborhood quality of life.
Future development
There are many plans for the trails in Omaha. A local organization is calling for more east-west connecting trails, as the majority of the city east of 72nd Street has few trails of note. There are also plans to connect Omaha to the MoPac Trail running east from Lincoln on a system called the Mo-Pac East Trail. Currently extending northeast towards over the Platte River on the Lied Platte River Trail Bridge near South Bend, the trail will eventually connect with the 144th Street Trail. The trails are also included in a plan called the Quad State Trail Project. This plan envisions linking numerous cities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, including connecting Omaha to St. Louis, Kansas City, Topeka and Lincoln via of trails, 450 of which already exist.
