Lincoln activists reach settlement with city over Wilderness Park housing development

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A legal dispute over a controversial housing development near Wilderness Park has come to an end.

On Thursday, activists filed to dismiss their lawsuit over the project after reaching a settlement with the City of Lincoln.

In May 2022, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird approved a 500-home development southeast of Highway 77 and Pioneers Boulevard.

The news sparked several protests led by the Niskithe Prayer Camp, a group of activists who opposed the development.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said the development threatened to displace religious ceremonies at a nearby sweat lodge.

The agreement includes five commitments from the city, including supporting efforts to conserve green space and mandatory training for staff.

In a statement, Kevin Abourezk — Niskithe Prayer Camp’s co-leader — said “it’s time to close this chapter of our struggle.”

“We want to express our sincere gratitude to all of our supporters, those who have walked beside us, testified in support of our inipi (sweat lodge) and spoke on our behalf,” he said. “We couldn’t ask for any more from our tireless allies. We will continue to work to remind our neighbors here in Lincoln that their Indigenous relatives are here, will remain here and will never surrender their rights and their culture.”