State parks in north-central Nebraska see improvements

Visitors to state park areas in north-central Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities. Projects in the works or completed will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects:

Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area – The expansion of 14 camping pads to 50-amp service has been completed at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area’s Beed’s Landing Campground, which is set to open May 1. The project, which cost $1,001,513, also included a new CXT shower facility and a new RV fill station.

Victoria Springs SRA – Two camping pads were converted to Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pads at a cost of $13,721 at Victoria Springs SRA near Anselmo.

Long Pine SRA – Guests at Long Pine SRA will find two new ADA-compliant cement vault toilets and parking pads, which were installed at a cost of $61,125, using Capital Maintenance and Land and Water Conservation Funds. A new campground for the park is in the design phase.

Keller Park SRA – Two camping pads were converted to ADA-compliant pads at a cost of $17,932, using CMF and LWCF funds, at Keller Park SRA. Two new ADA-compliant cement vault toilets and a parking pad were installed at a cost of $50,964, also using CMF and LWCF funds.

Sherman Reservoir SRA – At Sherman Reservoir SRA near Loup City, the expanded West Ridge Campground, which now has 61 campsites with Electric Plus (30/50 amp) service, opened in 2024.

Cowboy Trail – The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail section just east of Long Pine has reopened to the public after repairs were made from damages caused by the historic 2019 flood.

Repairs a mile east of Long Pine included installation of new culverts, rebuilding the embankment, and trail surfacing.

Beginning in Norfolk and spanning 317 miles west to Chadron, the Cowboy Trail, celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, is one of the largest Rails-to-Trails projects in the United States. The trail is developed 187 miles between Norfolk and Valentine, and 15 miles between Gordon and Rushville. The Cowboy Trail is free to access and open to hiking, biking, and equestrian use.

The projects funded by Capital Maintenance and Land and Water Conservation Funds improve safety and accessibility, protect natural habitats, boost local economies, and ensure long-term sustainability. These investments create more welcoming parks for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Capital Maintenance Funds were established by the Nebraska Legislature to help preserve Nebraska’s public outdoor recreation facilities and parklands. These, as well as state and federal funding sources, and Nebraska Game and Parks’ funds generated from user fees of the state park system, funded these park improvement projects.