August 11, 2010
What was once known as “The Hole” is now a source of civic pride in South Omaha.
Omaha South High School’s Collin Stadium Project, which transformed an inhospitable practice field into a premier outdoor sports facility and community gathering space, is the recipient of Omaha by Design’s annual Civic Leaf. The award recognizes an individual, organization or business that has worked to define and improve the metropolitan area’s civic places and public image. Representatives from Omaha Public Schools will be honored at the Aug. 18 meeting of the Omaha by Design Advisory Committee.
For decades prior to the dedication of the new stadium in August 2009, South High School athletes practiced at the old Collin Field and played their home games in borrowed stadiums. The old practice field and new stadium bear the name of the late Cornie Collin, a South High coaching legend.
The facility, designed by Holland Basham Architects, features a 3,200-seat stadium built into the hillsides, a 75-yard wide field that accommodates soccer and football, a 400-meter synthetic surface track, night lighting, two concession/restroom structures and a natural amphitheater at the west end that’s designed to accommodate outdoor events.
Collin Stadium was financed in large part by private donors and built by the Kiewit Building Group. Lamp, Rynearson & Associates provided the civil engineering services.
“Collin Stadium has made the Omaha Public Schools, the South Omaha community and South High School students and staff very, very proud,” said Mark Warneke, director of buildings and grounds at Omaha Public Schools. “It has changed the way those who use it, visit it and walk past it think about the possibilities for excellence in South Omaha. It is a wonderful project offering a sense of place never before experienced at the old South High stadium. Students have responded to the fact that soccer is played in a Class A facility on a well designed artificial turf field. We are grateful to all the public and private donors who helped make this project a reality.”
Past recipients of Omaha by Design’s Civic Leaf are First National Bank for its pair of sculpture parks in downtown Omaha, the partnership responsible for the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and Omaha Plaza, and Metropolitan Community College (MCC), the Omaha Public Library and Metro Area Transit for the development of MCC’s South Omaha Campus Connector.
For more information about Omaha by Design’s awards program, call 402.554.4010 or email info@omahabydesign.org.