Town's facilities shine through the midwest

Parks & Recreation, July, 2004

Located halfway between two big cities--Denver, Col. and Omaha, Neb.--North Platte, Neb. is making its own name for itself as a Sportstown. With a budget that most big cities dream of at $1.1 million for parks and $1.17 million for recreation, North Platte has put the 24,000-plus town on the map with stellar facilities and innovative ideas. With eight neighborhood parks, the crown jewel in the town would have to be the North Platte Recreation Complex. Located in Centennial Park, the building boasts a 100-foot dome, which caps an indoor swimming pool that has a 117-foot water slide. Along with the aquatics area, there is a double gymnasium, racquetball courts, weight rooms and meeting rooms. The citizens have taken advantage of the amazing facility, logging in almost 302,000 user hours last year.

The facility not only looks pretty, but also allows the North Platte park and recreation department to host multiple swim teams, one of which participates in the Special Olympics. The department believes in promoting lifetime sports participation, and believes that aquatics is one of those sports. The programs focus on inclusion and adaptability rather than disability.

"Aquatics are really the centerpiece of programming that we are in charge off," says Recreation Superintendent Rob Barr. "We teach everyone from 6-month olds to older adults with arthritis to enjoy aquatics. We really emphasize the programs because we think its something everyone can do."

Because of this attitude in aquatics, it isn't hard to see that the North Platte park and recreation department also encourages people to adopt the philosophy of "don't participate to win, but be a winner by participating." To help younger kids enjoy sports, many leagues do not keep score, all players play at least half the game, and everyone gets rewards at the end, no matter how they played. With everyone having such a good time, its no wonder that programs often top 700 children in any season.

The town of North Platte is also unique in several programs. The department has its own transportation system that carries passengers to and from any location. It includes a bus route, but will also pick up citizens on demand. This allows kids and other adults to get to the recreation center or to the field for practice or a game.

"It really makes our department unique, because kids have no problems getting to sporting events," says Barr.

Another way they create opportunities for citizens to be involved in recreation is through a program called Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The department trains and supervises more than 650 volunteers that they use at events throughout the community. Last year, RSVP provided 2000 volunteer hours, which saved the department significant amounts of money, as well as added an intergenerational involvement to the events.

"Volunteers are very important, especially now in the times of tight budgets. We would never be able to come up with the finances to take the place of volunteers," Barr says.

With a state-of-the-art facility, popular programming choices and unique ideas it's easy to see why North Platte was chosen as a Sportstown for Nebraska.