Visitors to state parks in north-central Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities, including at Victoria Springs SRA and Sherman Reservoir SRA.
At Victoria Springs near Anselmo, two camping pads were converted to be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant at a cost of just under $14,000.
At Sherman Reservoir near Loup City, the expanded West Ridge Campground now has 61 campsites with electric plus (30/50 amp) service, opened in 2024.
Another recent improvement includes camping pad expansion to 50-amp service at a Merritt Reservoir campground, which is set to open May 1. The project, which cost just over $1 million, also included a new shower facility and new RV fill station.
At Long Pine SRA, new ADA-compliant cement vault toilets and parking pads were installed and a new campground is in the design phase.
Keller Park SRA also had camping pads converted to ADA-compliant. Two new ADA-compliant cement vault toilets and a parking pad were also installed.
The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail section just east of Long Pine has reopened to the public after repairs were made from the damages of the 2019 flood. One mile east of Long Pine, repairs included installation of new culverts, rebuilding the embankment, and trail surfacing. The Cowboy Trail celebrates its 30th anniversary this year as one of the largest Rails-to-Trails projects in the United States.
Many projects were completed thanks to Capital Maintenance Funds, established by the Nebraska Legislature to help preserve Nebraska’s public outdoor recreation facilities and parklands. Alongside state and federal funding sources as well as Nebraska Game and Parks’ funds from user fees of the state park system funded these park improvement projects.
