Published on November 20, 2025
Parks and Recreation staff will conduct a controlled burn from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, November 20, in Pioneers Park, 3201 S. Coddington Avenue. The 42-acre burn will be located south of the Chet Ager building and Haines Branch. Park users are advised to avoid the area during this project.
The limestone trail along the south edge of the park, including the suspension footbridge and metal bridge across Haines Branch, will be closed until noon Friday, November 21. The burn is pending appropriate weather conditions and may be rescheduled.
“Controlled burns are an effective and important tool to manage large areas of land that are host to native plants and grasses. The process helps control invasive species like cedar trees in prairies before they can cause overcrowding and competition with desired vegetation, lowers the risk of wildfires by managing the space and volume of tinder, and improves habitat for wildlife and plant diversity, therefore creating a more ecologically resilient community,“ said Aaron Druery, Greenways District Supervisor, Lincoln Parks and Recreation. “Our crews monitor air quality and weather reports constantly when scheduling and performing the burn to ensure a safe burn event.”
For more information on the prairie and ongoing management efforts, call Aaron Druery, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, 402-499-1044. Druery will not be available during the burn on Thursday.
More information on Parks and Recreation is available at parks.lincoln.ne.gov.