NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/668245
78 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2016 I f on your next trip to a Nebraska park you spot someone standing at an upright post with paper and pencil in hand, don't be surprised. This summer, thousands of people will head out in teams in search of posts like these, winning prizes and having fun along the way. It's all part of the Great Park Pursuit, an annual challenge by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Recreation and Park Association. Now in its ninth year, the Great Park Pursuit encourages Nebraskans to get out and explore their home state, along with all the wonderful recreational opportunities it offers. "Nebraska is more than flat areas you drive by on the interstate. It has tremendous recreational diversity," said program organizer Bob Hanover. "There's almost no end to the outdoor opportunities people can learn about. Bring your fishing pole or kayak or RV on an outing and experience it for yourself." Here's how it works: Between May 1 and Sept. 16, participants are encouraged to explore as many official GPP sites across Nebraska as they wish, collecting an impression of a post located at each site. Each impression they mail in counts as an entry into a drawing for dozens of prizes. The grand prize is an outdoor recreation package worth $1,500. It's not just about collecting impressions, though. Great Park Pursuit sites – which range from state park areas, to NRD properties, to city and county parks, and even some federal properties – are varied and interesting spaces to explore with family and friends. In past years, program sites have included places such as Ash Hollow State Historical Park, Pioneers Park in Lincoln and Zorinsky Lake in Omaha. These sites often encompass fun spaces like horse riding trails, swimming areas, playgrounds, hiking trails and campgrounds. NEGPP.org has over a dozen descriptions of activities you can engage your kids in while exploring these outdoor spaces, including making leaf and flower pressings and identifying different kinds of animal tracks. "We have great participation," Hanover said. "The average age of a participant is approximately 22, which means we're getting a great mix of families who go out on these trips together. We get a lot of couples as well who make these excursions part of their weekend plans. We get people from all across the spectrum." He estimates that last year about 500 teams registered, leading to more than 9,400 park visits. It's a win-win situation: guests have fun exploring new places, and their hosts get to show off new facilities and park offerings. "There are really cool things across the state that people don't know about, and the Great Park Pursuit is an opportunity to see them firsthand," Hanover said. "We have a lot of people call us up and say they've recently added something new to their area that they want to share with others. Maybe it's a recently added handicap-accessible fishing pier, or a new educational exhibit. The Great Park Pursuit is an opportunity for towns across Nebraska to gain exposure to new projects that they're proud of." Registration for teams is now open at NEGPP.org. Participation and registration are free. Twenty Great Park Pursuit sites are offered, along with a traveling "bonus" post marked with the program mascot, Parker the Frog. Register now, and you, too, can visit parks, be active and win prizes through the Great Park Pursuit challenge. ■ The Great Parks Pursuit An annual adventure for the entire family. By Renae Blum The stone shelters at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area provide great views for a family outing. Enjoying the view is Kirk and Heather Hayes of Scottsbluff, along with daughters Atley Watson and Reagan Churchill. PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER O PHOT PHOT PHOTO BY O BY O BY JU JUL JUL JUL G IE G IE G IE G S EISE EISE EISER Great Park Pursuit marker at Lake Maloney.