Upgrades completed at state park and recreation areas across Nebraska

May 15, 2017 Jerry Kane

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has upgraded electrical campsite offerings, replaced aging water systems and other infrastructure, and upgraded or replaced shower houses and restrooms at dozens of state parks and recreation areas across Nebraska.

Additionally, new features at state parks including lodging, an aquatic center, an interactive stream and more will provide park visitors with new experiences.

Since 2014, Nebraska Game and Parks has made improvements at parks statewide, including:

 Upgrading or replacing restrooms and showers at 34 park areas;

 Installing electrical upgrades to campsites at nine park areas;

 Upgrading water systems at Enders Reservoir, Fort Kearny and Long Pine state recreation areas, as well as at Platte River State Park and Indian Cave State Park;

 Replacing the 57-year-old swimming pool at Ponca State Park with a new ADA-compliant aquatic center; renovating the swimming pool/bathhouse at Chadron State Park and resurfacing the wave pool at Mahoney State Park

 Constructing a new duplex-style lodge replicating historic officer’s quarters at Fort Robinson State Park;

 Constructing 10 new two bedroom cabins at Ponca State Park to replace 10 older cabins (scheduled for completion in the summer of 2017);

 Upgrading the RV trailer dump station at Ponca State Park

 Upgrading the sanitary systems at Fremont SRA and Platte River State Park

 Building a new family friendly shooting range and expanding the visitor’s center at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area; and

 Making shoreline improvements at Platte River State Park’s Jenny Newman Lake to include accessible fishing piers and a boat ramp. Additionally, an interpretive stream, dubbed Crawdad Creek, was created to flow through a series of shallow ponds in which children can play as they discover riparian and pond environments.

“Visiting Nebraska’s state parks and recreation areas has become a time-honored tradition for thousands of families,” said Jim Swenson, Parks Division Administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Our top priority is that our parks are well-maintained and offer activities and amenities that resonate with our visitors and showcase the beauty and history of our state.”

Many of these improvements were made possible through a $17.5 million allocation made by the Nebraska Legislature in 2014 to address deferred maintenance needs.

Additionally, funds generated through the sale of park entry permits, lodging and other park use fees have been used to pay for recent park improvements. In 2016, the Nebraska Legislature granted the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission the authority to raise park permit fees. New fees went into effect in 2017. Park cash funds have assisted with renovations to the caboose cabins at Two Rivers State Recreation Area and cabins at Mahoney State Park, among other projects.

“We are grateful to our park visitors for their support of the new fees and helping keep our cabins, campgrounds and other amenities vibrant,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Director Jim Douglas. “Fees paid by park visitors are an investment towards the continued maintenance of their state parks.”

A more complete list of improvements to date is available at outdoornebraska.gov/parksprojects.

The post Upgrades completed at state park and recreation areas across Nebraska appeared first on NEBRASKALand Magazine.

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