Nebraskaland

April 2021 • Nebraskaland 45 2001 - A forest-thinning project began at Chadron State Park to improve forest health and reduce wildfi re risk. The work helped stop the West Ash Fire, which burned 58,000 acres in 2012. 2002 - The Lied Platte River Bridge, abandoned by the Rock Island Railroad, opened as a trail across the river near South Bend. 2003 - The $7.9 million Missouri National Recreational River Resource and Education Center, a cooperative eff ort with the National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Better Ponca Foundation, opens at Ponca State Park. 2003 - The Family Aquatic Center opened at Mahoney State Park, adding a wave pool, drop slide, aquatic playground and sun turf to the existing pool and water slides. 2003 - The reconstructed Buff alo Soldiers Barracks were completed at Fort Robinson. The barracks were home to Black soldiers in the Ninth Cavalry. 2005 - The fi rst Missouri River Outdoor Expo was held at Ponca State Park, off ering hands-on activities featuring outdoor education, sports and recreation. The free event still draws more than 50,000 people annually. It spawned similar expos at Fort Kearny and Wildcat Hills state recreation areas and Platte River State Park. 2008 - The fi rst two mini lodges opened at Ponca State Park. The park now off ers 15 mini lodges, 10 two-bedroom cottages and two green cabins. The park also maintains four of the rustic cabins built in the 1960s for summer use. 2011 - Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Complex, the Commission's fi rst shooting range, opened at Platte River State Park. 2015 - The Commission, in conjunction with the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation, launched the Venture Parks initiative. Through the Foundation, donations would cover $28 million of the $35 million project. Construction began in 2016 and is ongoing. 2015 - Danish Alps State Recreation Area, part of a new reservoir near Hubbard, opened in May 2015. 2016 - The Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex opened. 2017 - Crawdad Creek at Platte River State Park opened to become the fi rst completed Venture Park addition. 2018 - Five new Venture Parks features opened at three parks: Treetop Adventure and the tallest climbing wall in the region at Mahoney State Park; a spray park and glamping cabins at Platte River State Park; and a fl oating playground at Louisville State Recreation Area. 2019 - The Schramm Education Center, a fully renovated and greatly expanded iteration of the former Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, opened as part of the Venture Parks. 2020 - The Treetop Journey course and Monkey Drop free fall activity were added to the Treetop Adventure at the Mahoney State Park. 2021 - Game and Parks continues to manage 76 areas and two state trails in its state park system, encompassing more than 70,000 acres across the entire state. Nebraska state parks and recreation areas account for about 20 of the top 25 tourist destinations in the state. N At Louisville State Recreation Area, people participate on the fl oating playground built in in 2018. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND

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