56 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2017
S
oon, if not already, vacationers
throughout Nebraska and the rest
of the country will make a trip
to one (or more) of Nebraska's
77 state parks and recreation
areas. Here are a few upgrades that will
welcome these travelers.
•
At Ponca State Park the 57-year-
old pool was replaced with a zero
depth entry pool, splash pad and new
restrooms and showers.
•
A duplex-style lodge that combines
historical features with modern
amenities, designed to replicate a series
of officer's quarters, was constructed at
Fort Robinson State Park in 2015.
•
Durable pre-fabricated concrete
restrooms and shower houses were
installed between 2014 and 2016 to
replace older facilities.
•
Electrical upgrades were installed
at Lake Ogallala, Lake Maloney,
Calamus, Lake Minatare, Medicine
Creek, Merritt Reservoir and Swanson
state recreation areas and at Niobrara
State Park.
•
Angler access improvements were
put in place at Jenny Newman Lake at
Platte River State Park.
•
Road improvements, including
resurfacing of parks roads and new
surfacing at the equestrian camping
area and the road to the boat ramp,
were completed at Indian Cave State
Park.
•
At Sandy Channel State Recreation
Area, rock-surface camping pads were
installed, along with new grills and
picnic tables in conjunction with lake
and boat access improvements.
•
Upgrades were made at Dead
Timber State Recreation Area,
including new grills and picnic tables,
and vault toilets were installed and the
picnic shelter was repainted.
•
The Wildcat Hills Outdoor
Shooting Complex was created, which
includes a rimfire range, archery range,
air rifle range and a trap/skeet range.
•
At Chadron State Park, the audio
visual system and lighting at the group
meeting facility were upgraded with
the installation of new audio visual
equipment and acoustic treatment.
These upgrades were made possible
by a combination of legislative
appropriations, park revenue, aquatic
habitat funds, donations and other
funding sources. ■
To see a complete list of upgrades
and their funding sources, visit
Outdoornebraska.org/parksprojects.
Parks Upgrades
By Margot DesRocher
Improvements will be seen throughout the state park system.
PHOTO
BY
JENNY
NGUYEN
Visitors play at the newly opened Ponca State Park Aquatic Center in Dixon County.
