OutdoorNebraska

Mormon Island State Recreation Area In 1960, dredging operations for producing fill material to build I-80 created the 46-acre lake that is known today as the Mormon Island State Recreation Area (SRA). The property was acquired by NGPC in the 1960s and opened to the public in 1970. There was a lot of demand from the public to offer additional recreation opportunities in this area due to its proximity to the community of Grand Island and visitors traveling through Nebraska along the I-80 corridor. The area offered camping, swimming, boating, and fishing, but it was somewhat limited. Therefore, throughout the 1970s, wildlife viewing, picnicking, and the first campground was built offering electric campsites in the main campground loop. Construction of the Cedar campground started in 2014 with additional electric camping opportunities lakefront campsites, which has been a huge attraction for visitors. This state recreation area is now one of the busiest in the South Central region of Nebraska and generates more revenue with the additional campsites and recreation opportunities. The picnic pavilion located in the Cedar Campground was built in fall of 2016. The amenity was made possible in partnership with the Hall County Visitor Bureau. One of Mormon Island's Park Superintendents applied for and received a grant in 2015 through the Hall County Visitor Improvement Fund. This grant did not require a match, which made this amenity a very worthwhile economic investment. The Park Superintendent applied for another grant through the Visitor Bureau to construct a new playground in the Cedar campground. The grant did not fully fund the project, but NGPC leadership found matching dollars to ensure the project could be completed through internal funding mechanisms. The playground was completed in spring 2020. This story is a great example of how NGPC met the outdoor recreation preferences of their guests and how building partnerships with local organizations can lead to funding opportunities. Understanding preferences of user groups is imperative in making outdoor recreation opportunities successful. Never underestimate the power of soliciting input from your constituents to ensure projects have community buy-in and are vested in the resources you offer. 97 Day use picnic shelter at Mormon Island State Recreation Area. (Hall County) SUCCESS STORY G U I D I N G S U C C E S S

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