Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
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Caring for Nebraska's state parks
With 78 state, recreation area or historical parks and two trails, management of our landscapes is important
to the public, as well as to the fi sh and wildlife dependent on the habitat. While some eff orts are planned
for annually — landscape maintenance, park improvements, controlled burns for habitat improvements —
others, such as severe weather response, are not.
Early in 2024, severe storms and tornados drove through eastern Nebraska, resulting in signifi cant
damage in the Platte River Valley. Though Game and Parks state park and recreation areas along the path
of destruction were spared signifi cant damage, parks staff began promptly cleaning up tree debris, restoring
service and providing ongoing service to the public. Two Rivers State Recreation Area also became a drop-off
site for green debris for those aff ected by the storms.
Other parklands eff orts were more traditional: grassland management and restoration, invasive red cedar
removal and restoration of eastern Nebraska's oak woodland habitat at Ponca and Indian Cave state parks,
Schramm Park SRA and Rock Creek Station State Historical Park and State Recreation Area.
Each of these eff orts preserves our state's natural beauty, enhances the public's park experiences and
support Nebraska wildlife.
Early in 2024, severe storms and tornados drove through
eastern Nebraska, resulting in signifi cant damage in the
Platte River Valley, including this wind damage to a roof
at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
