New bike shed installed at Red Willow State Recreation Area
By RONDA GRAFF
MCFF
While the camping season may be coming to a close, visitors at Red Willow State Recreation Area north of McCook have benefitted from a new addition the past few months.
Thanks to a collaboration of McCook’s Youth Change Reaction (YCR) and Nebraska Games and Parks, bicycles are now on loan while at Red Willow SRA.
The bike loan project was developed by a YCR member who was inspired by a similar program at Fort Kearney Historical Park. Through community donations, help from McCook’s Toy Box and a grant from McCook Community Foundation Fund, YCR was able to restore and donate bikes to the Red Willow State Recreation Area.
The bicycles were donated by several community members, along with funds for fixing and upkeep of the bikes. Tom Poore of Tinker Toms has gone through every bike to make sure the components are in good condition. He will work with YCR and Games and Parks to also help with upkeep.
But they realized that getting the bikes wasn’t enough. They needed a shelter for the bikes throughout the year. So they helped fund - and build - a shelter for the bike loan program.
The bikes and the newly-built shed housing the bicycles are located at the Willow Campground, located before reaching the dam. The shed was built this summer with the manpower of several YCR members and Games and Parks staff members.
YCR is the youth organization of the McCook Community Foundation Fund. Funds are also being used to create signs for older and newly created walking/biking trails at Red Willow SRA.
YCR sponsor Shelly Sehnert said the bike loan project will give youth at Red Willow Lake another fun activity, making the lake an even more enjoyable place for everyone and drawing people to the area. “It will also be a resource for campers at the lake to use on the bike trails or as transportation to and from the campgrounds or cabins,” she said.
Southwest Region Supervisor for Nebraska Games and Parks Aric Riggins is proud to see this project come to fruition.
"Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is extremely thankful for the vision of the McCook Youth Change Reaction realizing a need to develop a bicycle loaner program at Red Willow State Recreation Area,” he said. “Without the group's vision, fundraising effort to acquire bikes, and physical labor to help construct the new bike shed, this program would not have happened.”
Riggins also thanked MCFF for the grant assistance to help fund the lumber for the bike shed and the grant to help fund new trail signage aiding with wayfinding and safety on the developed 6.3 miles of multi-use trails in the State Recreation Area.
"Community support such as this helps to create a better state park area for all to enjoy and we are very thankful for the support," Riggins said.
In addition to the bikes and new bike shed at Red Willow, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and local organizations are working to expand the hike-bike trails to give visitors a chance to enjoy the most scenic areas of the park, while also giving bike enthusiasts a more challenging ride. Throughout the entire state recreation area, 3 miles of trails have been added in recent months, bringing the total to 6.3 miles.
Riggins concluded, “We do hope that the park users and the community take advantage of this great new opportunity to recreate out at the lake."
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
