2017 Annual Report 23
S O L A R E C L I P S E A B I G H I T I N N E B R A S K A S T A T E
P A R K S
Stretching across the state from Fort Robinson State Park (SP) in the
northwest to Indian Cave SP in the southeast, the total solar eclipse on
Aug. 17 darkened the sky over all 77 state parks areas, while 37 of them
experienced totality. An estimated 708,000 people traveled to Nebraska
for the event, fi lling park areas with thousands of fi rst-time visitors. Parks
provided programming to educate those in attendance and made other
special provisions to accommodate the crowds. Several parks mowed fi elds to
provide additional parking and camping, sponsored a citizen-science activity,
led schoolchildren on an eclipse-viewing hike, and distributed 20,000 pairs of
eclipse viewing glasses.
P O N C A S T A T E P A R K D E D I C A T E S A Q U A T I C C E N T E R
Thanks to many generous donors, Ponca State Park dedicated its new, $2.3
million Aquatic Center in 2017. This facility replaced a 60-year-old swimming
pool. Features for the new heated pool include a 25-foot water slide, a climbing
wall, a diving board, zero-depth entry, and spray features designed for small
children. The bathhouse features a concession area for both swimmers and
general park visitors. In the fi rst season of operation, the Aquatic Center had just
under 10,000 swimmers, with a gross income of more than $81,000.
2017
SOLAR
ECLIPSE
VIEWING
AT
PONCA
STATE
PARK.
PONCA
STATE
PARK
AQUATIC
CENTER.
