The McCook City Pool is again on the front page as there is progress on the project.
Earlier this week, the McCook City Council unanimously approved the hiring of an outside engineer to oversee the development of the city pool project.
It is great to see forward movement on this project which has been in the works for years...literally. It has been more than five years since a pool committee was formally created by the council. It has been more than 20 years since the last major improvement at the city pool took place, when a million dollars was put into the current facility. And even more impressively, it has been more than eight decades - 1937 to be exact - since the pool was built.
I try to imagine what those men (most likely only men) working during the Great Depression would think of the pool now. Would they be amazed that it is still functioning? Would they marvel that we haven’t replaced it since? Would they slap each other on the back and commend themselves that they built such a sturdy facility that has served its community for so long?
I also try to imagine the conversation in the mid-1930s when the country was deep in the throws of a depression, which had been raging for years and would continue until World War II began, yet the community came together to build something to improve the quality of life for its residents. A major world crisis didn’t make the community come to a grinding halt. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves, broke out their tools and got to work.
But along with the need for meaningful, paying jobs, what convinced the government that this was the right Work Progress Administration (WPA) project for McCook? What was the mindset of the community that this was important enough to warrant their time, their land and their effort? What convinced these leaders and workers that McCook needed a pool despite all the economic uncertainties at the time?
There had to be other priorities at the time, like food, education and housing, yet the leaders at that moment realized that this project was also important for its community.
I try to imagine the involvement of the community members in a town which was just 55 years old when the pool at the time. Did they have a say in the design of the pool? Why did they want multiple swimming lanes of two different lengths? What was the thought process behind its particular location? What was the role of McCook Junior College which had just opened its own building - McMillen Hall - in 1935 and was building True Hall in 1937? And most importantly, did anyone consider putting a natural slide from the pool down the hill at Kelley Park? (That would have been my most obvious addition.)
Obviously, these questions were considered along with others which were dismissed, but it would be interesting to know who and how those decisions were made. There is likely someone out there who has those answers or has the newspaper clippings with that information and at some point, I would like to find out the complete history of the project.
But we are here to determine McCook’s needs today. Community members should provide their input on what they want in their community on a regular basis. But it is even more important now and this isn’t just about the pool. Do you want an 8-field baseball complex? Do you want designated crosswalks at the obvious locations? Do you want to see local entities and organizations work together to make things happen? Have you seen something in another community that you think would benefit your hometown? Do you want a new green space with a playground for both kids and adults, because why should young people be the only ones who make themselves sick on the merry-go-round?
Then you need to speak up and be heard. And I’m not just talking about morning coffee groups where all the world’s problems are solved. It is contacting your local officials and asking to be a “stakeholder” in the decision making process as promised in the pool engineer’s contract. It is getting involved with local service organizations who are out there day-in, day-out making the community better. It is coming up with an idea and reaching out to those who can help make it happen or who know about funding opportunities.
Of course, we elect our local officials to make decisions for us, but they don’t make those decisions in a silo. They need our input (whether they like it or not) in order to make informed decisions. Are we always going to agree with their decisions? Probably not because it is impossible to know everything that goes into their decisions and because it is even harder to make every single person happy every single time.
But it is better to voice your opinion, holding your head high that you spoke up and tried to do your best for your community then lament never saying nor doing anything, wishing you had said something when it could have made a difference.
After all, we aren’t going to make our community even better by being silent. Instead, we can make McCook an even better place to call home by making our voices heard.
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month Bruce McDowell can be found walking around McCook for his health, to be helpful or maybe even attend a meeting.
It takes work and effort to be social but its vital to our community.
McCook's young people are shaping their hometown through a various projects.
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program
Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
