Freedom Park to possibly be moved to preserve WWII artifacts – WOWT

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT)-- A tough decision about an Omaha city park is moving forward after flooding threatened the historical artifacts.

Freedom Park is southwest of Eppley Airfield. It spent the majority of 2019 underwater and it was hit hard in the 2011 flood too.

There's a submarine, a minesweeper, and even a jet fighter at the park. The city wants to find a new home for these artifacts and other items, that's why it is looking into a study to see how to move everything.

T0 move something of that magnitude takes a lot of coordination with a lot of different partners, said Brook Bench with Parks and Recreation.

A WWII ship named the Hazard needs to be moved. It's the last minesweeper left in the United States. It's going to take a lot to move it.

If we did move that minesweeper it would be such a huge project, it's going to take time and I don't think we would be able to get it done before spring, said Bench.

On Tuesday the city council will be asked to hire a company that would do a mitigation study to see what it will entail moving these historical artifacts out of the flood plain, possibly to Levi Carter Park.

The city is also working with FEMA.

It's going to be a big-ticket item and we need to make sure its approved and help paid for, said Bench.

Cold temperatures won't speed up the process but you have to wonder, is there a potential for more flooding come spring?

It's a concern. It has been for the last few years, we will do what we can and as soon as we can, said Bench.

Bench cleanup still needs to be done at the park and moving out of Freedom Park is the best option they have right now.

The trend since 2011 has been the park seems it's been closed more than it's been open, said Bench.

Np Dodge Park has also remained closed since the spring flood. The city says it's still considering options for the future of that park as well.

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Freedom Park to possibly be moved to preserve WWII artifacts - WOWT