How Lukas Partners Built Interest for Heartwood Preserve’s Community Events

by | Sep 9, 2025

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Client Overview

Heartwood Preserve industry, PR services provided by Lukas Partners, and PR case study results

Heartwood Preserve is a family-friendly, scenic, mixed-use urban development at 301 S 145th Street in Omaha, Nebraska that offers retail, commercial, residential, and recreational facilities across 500 acres.

The Challenge

Aerial shot of Heartwood Preserve's Summer Saturdays event with bounce house and food trucks an event promoted by Lukas Partners

Heartwood Preserve wanted to raise awareness for their Summer Saturdays and Winterland events at Heartwood Park to encourage attendance from Omaha-area residents, despite being a new event series from a destination only opened in 2024. Our challenge was to reach families from all over the city, create interest in the events, and make the event information easily accessible to locals.

The Big Idea

Heartwood sign lit up at night in front of free ice rink in Omaha with Christmas trees for community events sponsored by Lukas Partners

Turn Heartwood Preserve into Omaha’s community gathering place—not just a new park. Our entire PR awareness and attendance strategy sold the idea that this location was the place for families to make lasting memories together without spending a dime.

Our Approach

Our goal was to showcase Heartwood Preserve as a vibrant community destination through thoughtful public relations efforts. We built campaigns around seasonal, time-limited attractions to create urgency, generate media buzz, and encourage repeat visits. By pairing highly shareable and free experiences—outdoor movies, ice skating, holiday lights—with influencer and media coverage, we gave Omaha families irresistible reasons to show up and come back.

Utilized Social Media & News Outlets

 

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A post shared by Kim Reiner (@ohmyomaha)


To spark interest in Summer Saturdays and Winterland, we tapped into a mix of social media, local news outlets, influencer partnerships, and community calendars. We spotlighted what mattered most to families—free outdoor movies, lawn games, kid-friendly attractions, and live entertainment—so they could see the park as a ready-made weekend plan. The goal: get people talking before the events began and make sure accurate, appealing details were easy to find.

News coverage from WOWT about free public ice skating rink in West Omaha generated by Lukas Partners for Heartwood Preserve

Promoted Community Relations Initiatives

 

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A post shared by Heartwood Omaha (@heartwood_omaha)


When promoting the Winterland event, we highlighted Heartwood Preserve’s role in giving back. Events like Live DJ Fridays, Sundays with Santa, Noon Year’s Eve, and Giving Tuesdays were positioned as ways for the community to connect and for nonprofits to benefit. This approach built goodwill, attracted local media attention, and reinforced the idea that Heartwood Preserve was about more than just entertainment—it was about community.

Provided On-Site Support

Aerial shot of free summer events in Omaha coordinated by Heartwood Preserve, including food trucks and outdoor movie

We didn’t just pitch the story—we helped reporters and influencers live it. Our team coordinated and facilitated on-site visits to ensure reporters, photographers, and influencers could capture the park’s atmosphere firsthand. By guiding these experiences, we made sure every story and post reflected the park’s energy, visual appeal, and welcoming community spirit.

The Results

Results from PR case study for Heartwood Preserve community events, including 243 media placements, 615M audience reach, $15M ad equivalency, and $44M publicity value

Let’s Promote Your Next Big Event

When you want the community to show up and keep coming back, Lukas Partners delivers. Our strategic PR contacts, social media support, and hands-on event management turn your big day into can’t-miss experiences. Let’s connect!

Kristen is a Senior Communications Strategist and writer with brand advancement, news media relations, media training, social media, and crisis communication expertise. She manages clients like FNTS, Creighton University, Omaha STEM Ecosystem, and Heartwood Preserve at Lukas Partners.

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