Lincoln’s new Canopy Yard skate park will temporarily close August 3rd through the 7th as crews install light poles and complete site work, with the city hoping to reopen the facility sooner if construction finishes ahead of schedule.
Karen Nalow, Capital Projects Administrator with Lincoln Parks and Recreation, said the closure will allow contractors to install the remaining light poles around the skate park and complete earthwork, including replacing soil with topsoil and cleaning up areas surrounding the facility. “We’re trying to be as efficient with that closure as possible,” Nalow said. “If there are other things that we can cover in that time frame, we will, but right now that’s the main focus.”
Although the light poles will be installed during the closure, they will not be operational immediately. Nalow said the lighting system depends on electrical service from the park’s building, which remains under construction as part of the larger Canopy Yard project.
The city has scheduled the skate park to reopen by 5 p.m. August 7th, but Nalow said crews could finish sooner. “Our hope is that it won’t take that long, but that is just being as conservative as possible,” she said. “If it wraps up early, then we’ll open the park early for sure.”
The skate park has been open since a soft opening in April while construction continues on the rest of Canopy Yard, a recreation complex that will also include a pump track, playground, dog park, Common Ground Plaza and other amenities. The overall project remains on track for completion by the end of 2026.
Nalow said additional temporary closures are expected as construction progresses, but the city plans to combine work whenever possible to minimize disruptions. “That’s why we did the soft opening so that we can have the skate park open and used and still have the opportunity to close and make sure that we’re wrapping up the rest of Canopy Yard,” she said.
To notify skaters about the upcoming closure, Lincoln Parks and Recreation has issued news releases, contacted community partners including The Bay and the Lincoln Skate Association, and posted signs at the skate park. Additional signage will be installed during the closure reminding visitors of the Aug. 3-7 timeline.
Skaters looking for alternatives during the closure can use the city’s Peter Pan and Tierra skate parks, which will also be listed on closure signage.
Meanwhile, construction continues across the rest of Canopy Yard, with more features becoming visible as work progresses. “We’re excited,” Nalow said. “Hopefully as people drive by, they’re seeing more and more of those features kind of coming up out of the ground.”