Sunken Gardens is a Depression-era project built in the former bend of the Antelope Creek and a neighborhood dump site. Located adjacent to Antelope Park, the land was donated by long-time Lincoln families.--the Freys, the Faulkners, and the Seacrests. During the winter of 1930-31, park superintendent E. M. Bair hired 200 "family men" to work on park projects, including construction of Sunken Gardens. A newspaper article in 1931 noted the new display gardens were so beautiful the first year that surrounding states sent representatives to Lincoln to get names of the plants and to sketch some of the planting design patterns. A local and national treasure was born.

In 2003 the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Foundation sponsored a fundraising campaign to preserve, renovate, and enhance Sunken Gardens. Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers and generosity of supporters, the campaign reached its goal in less than a week. The newly renovated Sunken Gardens was re-dedicated in 2005.