Grand Island's City Council approved a memorandum of understanding Dec. 9 for the sale of Camp Augustine, moving one step closer to creation of a new state park in Grand Island. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Grand Island City Council approved a resolution Dec. 9 regarding sale of Camp Augustine to the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission and Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation regarding the sale of Camp Augustine in the process of developing a state park.
The City Council voted 9-0 to approve the resolution. City Council member Mike Paulick was absent from the meeting.
The resolution is another step toward establishing a state park that would include Mormon Island State Recreation Area and Camp Augustine.
The park would become the ninth state park in Nebraska. The City of Grand Island purchased Camp Augustine from the Boy Scouts Overland Trails Council in November 2023 for slightly less than $2 million.
The city has started the process of obtaining appraisals and other work needed to prepare for the sale of Camp Augustine, according to a memo from City Attorney Kari Fisk.
City Council member Doug Lanfear said he was concerned that development of the park such as areas for campgrounds and cabins would eliminate natural areas in the property that are home to numerous wildlife.
Jim Swenson, deputy director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said that as much of the area that could be preserved would be done. Swenson said that there is a very high demand for camping locations in the state.
“We’re pretty excited about it,” Swenson said.
Mayor Roger Steele noted that a component of the Game and Parks Commission’s work is nature education.
City Council member Jack Sheard said he thought that the state park would bring more people to Grand Island. He described the project as a “home run” and “win-win.”
Former Mayor Jay Vavricek commended the city’s staff and Game and Parks Commission for their work to move the project forward.
The tracts of land involved in the state park are Camp Augustine, 158 acres; Mormon Island State Recreation Area, 167 acres; Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 156 acres; Nebraska Department of Transportation, 56 acres; federal land, 88 acres; and Hall County, 32 acres.
Plans to develop Camp Augustine were discussed at an Oct. 8, 2024, City Council meeting. John Royster, landscape architect and president of Big Muddy Workshop in Omaha, gave a presentation at that meeting. The cost to develop the recreation area is $45.3 million, Royster estimated.
Components of the development presented at the October 2024 meeting included: outdoor education center, $7.29 million; central green space, $980,485; indoor archery and pellet gun range, $1.60 million; nature playground, $517,726; kayak and fishing pond, $591,741; trails and pedestrian river crossings, $5.84 million; tent campgrounds, $898,363; RV Campground, East Loop, $3,54 million; RV Campground, West Loop, $3,47 million; east cabins, $3.25 million; west cabins, $3,18 million; dog park, $212,590; north channel, river put-in and take-out, $1.24 million; south channel, river take-out, $375,076; sanitary sewer system, $3.60 million; potable water system, $2.29 million; and electrical system, $1,36 million.
The memo of understanding said that the intent was to combine Mormon Island State Recreation Area and Camp Augustine to develop a state park. The city’s intent is to sell the land for its appraised value. The Game and Parks Commission will not be able to take possession of the property before July 1, 2026.
In other action, the City Council approved renaming a stretch of U.S. Highway 30 to Old U.S. Highway 30 because of development of a four-lane stretch of Highway 30 west of Grand Island. City staff requested a name change for a 3.4-mile segment of right-of-way that the public will no longer use as U.S. Highway 30. There are 26 properties, totaling 78 addresses, along this stretch of roadway that will be notified of the street name change.
In the consent agenda, the City Council approved preliminary plans, specifications, and estimates with the Nebraska Department of Transportation for the Grand Island West Connector Trail. In 2023, the City Council approved a grant application for $1,433,545 for the West Connector Trail through the Transportation Alternatives Program. The grant required a 20 percent city match of $286,649 and 80 percent federal funding of $1,146,596. Project plans have proceeded to the point for final edits and subsequent bid letting.
Also in the consent agenda, the City Council approved the purchase of 49 police car radios and 28 portable radios for the Police Department. The total cost of the purchase is $729,917. The City Council also approved the Grand Island Police Department’s request to purchase seven Ford police utility vehicles for $316,176.
