OMAHA- Groundwork is underway for what officials said will be the first tournament-style youth sports facility in northeast Omaha — anchored by a nearly 115,000-square-foot structure launched with $45 million in federal and state dollars. The City of Omaha is to own, maintain, and operate the future Levi Carter Park Activity and Sports Complex along the north shore of Carter Lake in Levi Carter Park. That’s north of downtown, near Eppley Airfield. A ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday at the site drew politicians, including Gov. Jim Pillen, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, and City Councilwoman Juanita Johnson.

Also speaking was former State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who helped lead legislative efforts in 2022 and 2023 to direct public funding to the historically disinvested area he represented. Wayne, who was term-limited at the start of this year, expects the new facility to help level the playing field for families in North Omaha who have not had the same access to higher levels of youth sports as other more affluent areas. “We have redlined youth sports in Omaha,” Wayne said, citing the dearth of athletic complexes in eastern Omaha compared to those that draw crowds and economic development to western Omaha and the suburbs.

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