illustrations of the new skate park that will be constructed at Pier Park, (City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Initial steps have been taken for three major projects for the Grand Island Parks and Recreation Department.
The projects were mentioned during City Council budget hearings.
The three projects are the city’s skate park at Pier Park, the train at Stolley Park, and Island Oasis.
Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy said that the skate park in the southwest corner of Pier Park will be totally redone. The existing structure, made from metal and wood, will be torn down. The skate park is more than 20 years old, he said. It will be replaced with a park constructed from concrete.
“It’s really just aged to the point where it needs to be replaced,” he said.
The Parks and Recreation Department had about 50 people show up to a public input meeting recently on the skate park.
“It’s used on a daily basis,” McCoy said.
His department has budgeted $900,000 for the project. The structure will have many ramps and rails for skateboarders. A goal is to complete the skate park by the fall of 2025.
A second project is renovating the train area in the southeast corner of Stolley Park. McCoy said the train has been there for many years since the city had a zoo at the site.
A goal is to improve the area inside the tracks. More tunnels will be added, as well as play areas an walking paths. A path for bikes will be constructed.
“It’s an unused area inside the tracks,” McCoy said. Special crossings will be built so people can safely cross over the train tracks to enter the interior area.
“We have a private partners who are helping raise funds” for the project, McCoy said. A fund will be established at the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, and a fund drive to raise $750,000 will be launched. Tom and Becky Gdowski will provide leadership for the fund drive, he said.
The city has budgeted $150,000 this year for the project and $2 million next year for the project. A goal is to complete the train project by the fall of 2026. The train now operates on Saturdays and Sundays.
“We’ll expand that to Thursdays and Fridays,” he said.
He noted that the train usually operates on Halloween.
A third major project is at Island Oasis. The wave pool will be renovated. Some of the buildings and the slides will also be part of the renovation project. He estimated the cost of the project as $12 million to $15 million.
He said that Island Oasis opened in 1993.
Updates and improvements are needed to keep it as an attractive destination, he said. A goal is to complete the project by the spring of 2026.