At the corner of Washington and Lincoln Streets in the heart of Papillion, the recently completed Papillion City Park Project has transformed a central community space into a more connected, accessible destination designed for everyday use and large community gatherings alike.

Schemmer partnered with the City of Papillion and the Confluence-led design team to complete early site development and design efforts, including surveying, utility coordination, stakeholder collaboration, and preparation of construction documents. A geotechnical investigation was also completed to evaluate subsurface conditions and ensure the site could support the planned improvements, providing a strong foundation for construction.

The multi-disciplinary team was led by Confluence out of Omaha, providing overall site, landscape, playground, and amenity design, with Morrissey Engineering delivering lighting design. Schemmer provided civil engineering services and building design for the multi-use performance pavilion. Improvements included a destination playground with nature-inspired features, a combined stage and picnic pavilion, improved internal roads and parking, looping trails, native landscaping, and updated lighting, stormwater, and accessible pathways throughout the park.

Because the Pavilion sits partially below design flood levels along Papillion Creek, Schemmer engineered a dry floodproofing solution to protect the structure from damage during extreme flood events. The design incorporated deep, cast-in-place concrete perimeter walls to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces and potential debris impact, reinforced the structure against buoyancy, and added a flood log barrier system along with watertight utility penetrations. This rigorous, site-specific engineering gives the community a resilient, fully functional gathering space built to perform for generations to come.

Designed with flexibility and local character in mind, the new pavilion opens to multiple lawn areas and supports a wide range of events and daily activities. Subtle references to Papillion’s identity, including Monarch butterfly elements and complementary material selections, help tie the park to its surroundings. The project has shaped into a welcoming outdoor space that reflects the community and encourages year-round use.