OutdoorNebraska

24 2019 Annual Report • State Parks V E N T U R E P A R K S W E L C O M E G U E S T S T O L E A R N , E X P L O R E A N D P L A Y Venture Parks have been developed with special features in five zones for guests to discover, explore, use their imagination, relax or take a wild adventure. Each of the four parks in the Venture Park Complex have unique features that allow park guests to find what they love to do. Projects completed since inception are operating successfully, serving thousands of customers and producing much positive public feedback. Unique offerings such as the floating playground at Louisville SRA, Crawdad Creek and glamping cabins at Platte River State Park (SP) and the Treetop adventure ropes course and rock wall at Eugene T. Mahoney SP are providing experiences never before available within Nebraska's state parks. In the spring of 2020, we will open the new full-service campground and mountain bike venture trails at Platte River SP. The campground will offer 49 full-service campsites with supporting amenities of a shower house, off-leash dog park and natural playground. The 4.25 miles of additional new mountain bike trails will accommodate riders of all skill sets and provide 24 challenge features for riders to test. Phase Two projects will be under construction in 2020, including the group conference and wedding facility at Mahoney and the Up and Over Adventure Playground complex at Platte River SP. Concept designs for Phase Three projects, such as the tree house classroom at Schramm Park SRA and the expansion of the aquatic facility at Mahoney SP, will also be developed in the next year. I N V E S T I N G I N M A I N T E N A N C E O F O U R P A R K S Nebraska will celebrate the centennial of the first state park in 2021. Operating and maintaining a statewide inventory of 76 parks with an extensive list of aging buildings, utility systems, roads and related infrastructure is costly and the need for repairs typically exceeds available funds. With funding assistance provided by the Legislature in recent years, the State Park Improvement Fund and Capital Maintenance Fund (sales tax on motor boats and all-terrain vehicles), Game and Parks has invested in repairing and rehabilitating critical infrastructure with a focus on public safety, accessibility and compliance with state and federal mandates. Nearly $6 million was invested in 2019. Much work remains as the Commission addresses capital maintenance projects with an estimated cost of $76 million. The agency has committed to a 10-year plan to address things needing repaired or replaced. To achieve this goal, the Commission must bolster our park cash reserves as well as addressing any unforeseen needs that arise. Fee increases were implemented in 2019 to generate additional park cash funds that can be committed to maintenance. Future park entry permit increases and activity fee adjustments will be required, as well as an annual commitment from funds generated by the Nebraska Outdoor Recreation Development Act, a tax on cigarette sales. The plan also relies heavily upon a continued annual investment of $3.5 to $4 million from Capital Maintenance Funds; however, that fund is due to sunset in 2022. Game and Parks will work to have the fund extended beyond the current sunset date in order to preserve our park resources beyond our centennial and for future park visitors.

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