Independence Day Recreation through Nebraska History:
Nebraska Game and Parks hold a precious 100 year tradition in containing
the state’s diverse landscape and wildlife
By Katy Keller-Lautzenhiser
My late grandparents – Neal and Pauline Keller – shared a love for Nebraska’s wildlife and recreation. While Grandpa was an avid angler traveling the country for that big catch, Grandma fell in love with the serene beauty of the Sandhills, often found every evening sitting on her porch bench, staring out at the picturesque meadow surrounding our ranch. This loving pair also left a legacy of purpose through the 186-acre Keller Park State Recreation Area, northwest of Ainsworth on Bone Creek. Grandpa – who served on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in the 1980s – was quoted as saying the land that made up Keller Park was such a nice spot it had to be shared in 1986. So it was here we spent several of our Independence Day celebrations with dozens of other wildlife and camping enthusiasts.
My late grandparents, Neal and Pauline Keller, photographed during the Keller Park State Recreation Area Grand Dedication on June 7, 1986. At the age of 9, I truly had no idea the magnitude of the event, nor how the park would impact the future wildlife, recreation and economy of the Sandhills.
The Cornhusker State is home to one of the best state park systems in the nation. Some of the most charming state and historical parks, in addition to attractive recreational and wildlife areas, are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands families that brings millions of dollars into the state and make an economic impact during Fourth of July holiday. These inviting corners of our state are spearheaded by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, who hold a rich 100 year history as stewards for the state’s wildlife and recreational opportunities.
“I grew up in Nebraska,” Broken Bow native Christy Rasmussen said, Communications Director for the Game and Parks, “and everyday I’m amazed by beauty of our state. The diversity of the landscape and the wildlife, it’s tremendous and endless.”
Separate hunting and fishing licenses were not available until 1940.
The story of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission started in 1901, when the Nebraska Legislator abolished the then 22-year-old Nebraska Fish Commission, renaming the bureau the Nebraska Game and Fish Commission, according to the commission’s website. The organization then employed four full-time employees to enforce state laws, in addition to 88 volunteer wardens to report the state-wide status of fish and game, and violations.
The Nebraska Legislator created the State Park Board in 1921, setting aside one section of school land in the Pine Ridge for Chadron State Park. Five years later, the Game and Fish established a statewide system of recreation to supplement the state parks. To provide outdoor recreation for Nebraska citizens, the bureau acquired five lakes in four counties, plus added Arbor Lodge near Nebraska City, and Victoria Springs near Anselmo, to the state park system.
Today, there are 54 conservation officers working the state, and the number of public recreational lands has grown to eight state parks, 11 state historical parks, 66 state recreational areas and 254 wildlife management areas.
Keeping up with the momentum of a changing culture, Rasmussen agrees the Game and Parks has thrived at maintaining its presence through different mediums. The first issue of Outdoor Nebraska, the precursor to NEBRASKAland Magazine, was first published in 1926. With the evolution of television brought the Outdoor Nebraska television program in 1973, which debuted with 13 half-hour segments.
Today, based on the Game and Parks’ different customers, the agency tries to remain relevant with how they communicate, and how people prefer to receive their information. While Rasmussen confirmed some fishermen still favor getting their reports from their local bait shop, other wildlife devotees – like those who are fascinated with the world renown Sandhills Crane migration – visit the agency’s mobile apps or social media sites for up-to-date news.
“We really start by listening to our customers. Through formal and informal surveys, we find out who our customers are, and what motivates them to be outdoors.”
Outdoor enthusiasts can access the Fish and Wildlife Guide mobile app to see virtual custom-designed Geographical Information System (GIS) maps, which display trails, bodies of water, and where the best hunting and fishing are being reported. Moreover, a State Game and Parks Outdoor Guide mobile app is also available for folks to view park maps, and to search from their smart phone what amenities are available for camping or lodging.
“Several people, like our NEBRASKAland contributors and biologists, are often online, talking to people about where fishing is good, what the weather is doing, and what events are happening,” Rasmussen said. “We want to be accessible to all customers, at all places, all of the time.”
Rasmussen has found through research that people in Nebraska like to be outdoors to simply create memories and escape from their regular routine. When subjects were shown outdoor recreational photos, what seemed to resonate most with folks was a picture of an older gentleman with a small child, fishing together near a pond.
“No matter if you like to take your kids fishing, or see a beautiful sunset over body of water, there are so many opportunities in Nebraska to create memories with your family,” Rasmussen asserted. “You can’t create memories by watching TV indoors. There’s no better way to do that than to go outside. It’s easy, convenient and it’s a rare treasure for Nebraskans to experience.”
Click here for a full list of Independence Day celebrations at Nebraska Parks