2025 was a busy and exciting year in the City of Bellevue—one marked by new opportunities, strong community connections, and the launch of transformative projects that will shape the city’s future for generations to come. It was also a year of growth, as Bellevue welcomed several new subdivisions, including Lakewood West, Chandler Creek, Cornhusker Creek, and Wilshire, bringing more than 500 new single-family homes along with a variety of multifamily housing options to the community.
The year began in celebration as the City of Bellevue joined the Bellevue Senior Center in January to commemorate its 50th anniversary, honoring five decades of service and community engagement. January also marked the launch of the newly created Bellevue Mayor’s Youth Council, which began meeting with the goal of giving young residents a voice and empowering them to make a difference in their community.
After a relatively mild start to winter, Bellevue experienced its first significant snow event in mid-February. City crews received widespread praise and many accolades for their efficient and effective snow removal efforts.
In March, the Bellevue Police Department honored excellence at its annual awards banquet, naming Officer Dan Weber as Officer of the Year and Detective Karen Wrigley as Detective of the Year.
March was also a major milestone for city development. Dirt work began on the future Bellevue Bay Indoor Water Park, along with construction of a new large, all-inclusive playground at American Heroes Park. Work also began on the $2.6 million Haworth Park Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project, which will bring reliable, flood-resistant water and sewer services to the Haworth Park and American Heroes Park areas.
On March 20, City, State, County, and Federal leaders gathered for the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Bellevue Bay Indoor Water Park at the northwest corner of Highway 75 and Highway 34. Once completed, this development is poised to become the fourth-largest indoor water park in the country, establishing Bellevue as a premier destination for families and tourists nationwide.
In April, Bellevue hosted a free public event exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the local economy, highlighting how AI is reshaping industries, workforce dynamics, and economic growth in Nebraska and across the nation. Also in April, City leaders joined the Bellevue University community to cut the ribbon on the new 72,000-square-foot Athletic Field House, now home to Bruin Athletics and an impressive addition to the Bellevue community.
Late spring brought learning opportunities to City Hall as Mayor Rusty Hike welcomed numerous elementary school classrooms for guided tours as part of their government studies curriculum.
In early May, the Bellevue Fire Department recognized outstanding service during its annual Badge Presentation and Awards Ceremony, presenting exemplary service and life-saving awards to more than 40 firefighters. That same month, the City’s Wastewater and Solid Waste Department hosted a town hall meeting to discuss the upcoming Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvement Project in portions of Olde Towne Bellevue.
The Bellevue Farmers Market opened for the season on May 31 at Washington Park and enjoyed strong attendance throughout the summer. City leaders also showed strong support for Team Offutt at the annual Offutt Appreciation Day Picnic held at Bellevue Berry Farm, recognizing the resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering support of military members and their families.
Early June brought record crowds to the Bellevue Rocks Riverfront Festival, featuring free live music, a carnival, food vendors, and favorable weather. On June 20, more than 750 students and residents gathered for the official ribbon cutting of the Beardmore Chevrolet, Subaru, Hyundai Playground at American Heroes Park, one of the largest all-inclusive playgrounds in the region.
The fishing lake at American Heroes Park continued to grow in popularity throughout the year, with multiple fish stockings and well-attended Community Fishing Nights sponsored by Nebraska Game and Parks.
In late July, the City hosted a public informational meeting on the upcoming Mission Avenue Reconstruction and Streetscape Improvement Project. August brought additional recreational amenities with the opening of four new regulation-size pickleball courts at Everett Park, along with strong participation in National Night Out celebrations throughout the community.
Historic milestones were celebrated as First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue kicked off its 175th anniversary at the Historic Old Church on Franklin, recognized as the oldest church in the State of Nebraska. The Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club also hosted the 54th annual Arrows to Aerospace Parade, part of a full weekend of festivities, with Bellevue Fire Chief Perry Guido serving as Grand Marshal.
In late September, the Bellevue Food Pantry held its campaign kickoff event at the site of the former Bellevue Library, which will soon become the pantry’s new expanded home. Every member of the Bellevue City Council attended in support. Mayor Rusty Hike praised the pantry’s mission, noting that the expanded location will allow even more families to receive help close to home.
That same month, volunteers joined Green Bellevue, the Bellevue Tree Board, and City staff to plant trees at Banner Park as part of the Sarpy County Memorial Forest, honoring Nebraska’s fallen heroes through living memorials. Bellevue University also announced exciting developments at the former Baseball Village site, where construction began on the new Bellevue University Sports Complex. The complex will include modern baseball, softball, and soccer fields featuring large video scoreboards and additional amenities, with room for future expansion. Soccer games began at the complex in the fall, with baseball and softball play scheduled to begin in 2026.
Progress continued on the Bellevue Community Foundation’s Legacy Trail at American Heroes Park, with signage and lighting enhancements underway and scheduled for completion in the spring.
A record crowd filled downtown Bellevue for the annual Trick-or-Treat event in late October. The City also co-hosted the Scare Away Hunger Flash Food Drive, which concluded on Halloween and resulted in significant food and monetary donations to support local families during the holiday season.
In November, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce hosted Nebraska’s Official Veterans Day Parade, drawing a large crowd in support of local veterans, with Bellevue City Council President Rich Casey serving as Grand Marshal. The City and the Nebraska Department of Transportation also hosted an open house to discuss options for fixing or replacing the Fort Crook Road bridges over Papillion Creek and the Union Pacific Railroad.
The annual Officer Chris Abbott Memorial Chili Cook-Off and Silent Auction raised enough funds to support nearly 150 Bellevue children through the Holiday Heroes (Shop with a Cop) Program.
Later in the year, Mayor Rusty Hike and the Bellevue City Council finalized an agreement incorporating world-famous Mattel brands into the Bellevue Bay Indoor Water Park, paving the way for themed attractions ahead of its anticipated 2027 opening.
The year concluded on a festive note with Bellevue’s Drive-Thru Christmas Celebration in mid-December. Santa greeted more than 1,000 cars along Franklin Street as families enjoyed big trucks, holiday characters, and a synchronized light and music show at Washington Park—all from the comfort of their vehicles.
From celebrations and community engagement to major infrastructure investments and future-defining projects, 2025 was truly a landmark year for the City of Bellevue.