When my family and I travel, we tend to notice the things we like in other communities as well as all the things we don’t appreciate as much - mostly the traffic. But we take special note of those things we think would be possible in McCook, which would help McCook thrive and grow, which would make McCook an even better place to call home.
It can be as minimal as a dog park, which is a great asset for both residents and visitors alike. Fortunately, the McCook K9 Korner Dog Park is planned for Barnett Park and will be in place soon.
It could be restaurants which we think would add to the great eateries we already have. Or it could simply be the atmosphere created by outdoor dining and spaces where people gather to share food, friendship and ideas.
But one concept which we had seen over and over and which came of even greater importance during the pandemic when people were forced to work from home was the need for an alternate work space or which is more commonly known as a cowork space.
Thanks to the effort of Andy Long of the McCook Economic Development Corp. and several generous sponsors, McCook has its own cowork space on the fourth floor of the Keystone Business Center in the heart of McCook. It is known as the McCook Cowork Space just to avoid any confusion.
So what exactly is a cowork space?
Generally speaking, the definition of coworking is when people assemble in a neutral space to work independently on different projects, or in groups on the same projects. It’s different from a typical office workspace because the people in a coworking environment generally aren’t working for the same company.
Coworking spaces offer the same amenities you would find in a traditional office, along with a lot more. A major differentiator is flexibility, since you don’t need to sign a long-term lease in a coworking space.
But there are so many more reasons why McCook needed a cowork space from camaraderie to a place to escape to.
Those who are currently working on the fourth floor have already created a cohort among themselves. While they don’t work for the same company nor are they working on the same project, yet they find themselves leaning on each other for support, for insight, for simply social interaction.
As a McCook Chamber employee, my oldest son is housed on the fourth floor but is learning how to sew from Paula Sandberg, who works at a desk nearby. (While I taught him how to sew a button or whipstitch a hem, we never broke out a sewing machine.)
The cowork space is also perfect for those who can work from anywhere so they make the choice to move from a larger community - and all the headaches - to a smaller community - where life is hopefully a little more laid back.
But a cowork space is not just limited to someone who needs an office for their business. Anyone who has tried to work from home understands how distracting it can be.
I have a home office but my attention can easily be diverted. There is a load of laundry waiting to be folded in the drier. There is a stack of bills pushed to the side of the desk that needs to be dealt with. Or maybe it’s that stack of VHS tapes which have been waiting to switch into a digital format for years but today seems like the best day to do it.
And for anyone who says McCook is not big enough to warrant this type of space, there is no such thing as too small.
As part of a cross-country bike ride for low-income housing in 2019, my oldest daughter helped build a cowork space in St. John, Kansas, a town of just 1,179 people. They understood the need to create space where people could gather and get work done.
If you haven’t seen the McCook Cowork Space, please call the McCook EDC office at 308-345-1200. Andy, along with McCook Chamber Director Dawson Brunswick, put together a great, usable, efficient space and they love to give tours of the space.
Several McCook organizations are working to create additional welcoming spaces throughout McCook, but the McCook Work Space is already one of those spaces which is making McCook an even better place to call home.
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
