Parks projects underway

kirt manion

 

After four years of public operations in Nebraska City, the ArborLinks Golf Course switched to a private designation in January of 2007.

Brandon Burns, general manager at the course, said the move was made to improve the long-term financial future of ArborLinks.

Prior to the change, the course was available to all golfers at all times, with the exception of times when the course had been reserved for an event.

In order to play a private course, a golfer must either have a membership, be accompanied by a member or be sponsored by a member.

In addition to its private designation, Burns said ArborLinks would have a continued resort component with guests at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center having access.

While changing from a public to a private course, ArborLinks also announced several upgrades for the facility. Holes No. 1, 2, 3, and 14 were to get new tee boxes, while No. 5 will feature new bunkers and No. 9 will feature a new lake.

A clubhouse expansion is also planned that will nearly double the current size of the facility and will include a full service restaurant, a separate golf pro shop and locker room space.

 

Table Creek

Skip and Monica Welsh purchased Table Creek Golf Course from Cleon and Brenda Popelka in January.

The Welsh family, who took official ownership of the property on Jan. 2, is hoping to bring a new energy to the club, which opened its doors 10 years ago.

In an effort to increase memberships and include more residents, the Welsh family broke the facility into two segments, a golf club and a club house with a social club environment.

Memberships are available for either the golf course or the club house separately or for both as a package.

Skip Welsh said he hopes to make the clubhouse into a hub of area activities and events, such as the Super Bowl party recently held at the club.

Welsh said the facility would be family-friendly and noted that the clubhouse will have a no smoking policy.

On the course, Welsh said little would change, aside from possible slight adjustments to attract more tournaments to the facility.

 

Baseball fields

The Nebraska City Baseball Association will begin the first phase of its ball park improvement project this spring at Steinhart Park with construction of a new concession stand for the Jaycees near the youth field on the north side of Steinhart Pond.

Brad Kaufman of the Nebraska City Baseball Association said funding for the project has been received from the Steinhart Foundation, Nelson Foundation and Wirth Foundation.

In addition to the new concession stand, Kaufman said work has been done to the Clemmy Holmes Field warning track.

Improvements make for a deeper track, which will give more of a fence warning to players chasing down fly balls and also reduce the hazard of players slipping on the track.

Work on the track was donated by volunteers. Bruce Kreifels of Tri State Excavation donated labor to the project.

A number of other projects are being pursued for the park. Kaufman said fund raising for the additional projects will begin soon.

Plans for the park include a new press box and concession stand for the primary field, which is used for high school and American Legion teams.

The master plan also proposes a walking trail from the parking area near Steinhart Lodge to the baseball field and moving the picnic shelter on the south side of the Steinhart Pond to create additional off-road parking.

The two-way traffic by the swimming pool would be extended to the parking lot by the middle diamond, so cars will not have to go around the park to leave.

The plan proposes a new driveway connecting Steinhart Park to Fourth Corso near the new entrance way to Terra Oaks Estates.

The playing area of Clemmy Holmes Field would be expanded with additional space in left field. The center field fence, now at 327 feet from home plate, would be extended to 352 feet.

Pat Haverty of the association said the middle diamond would be rotated so bleachers are not located just over the center field fence. Batters at the middle diamond now hit toward the pond, but would hit toward the east.

 

Go-cart trail

Plans were announced for go-cart and all terrain vehicle trail near the Old Wyoming campground about four miles north of Nebraska City on land owned by Bobb and Judy James.

The trail, a 300-foot strop and one-mile motocross track, was put on hold according to Judy James. That doesn’t mean the idea has been forgotten, however. James said the trail could be opened sometime this year.

 

Hiking/biking trail

A plan to construct the first phase of a hiking and biking trail through Nebraska City could see its first activity in the fall of 2007 or the spring of 2008.

Plans for the hiking and biking trail were announced in the fall of 2006.

When completed, the Steinhart Trail will stretch from Whispering Pines Bed and Breakfast on Steamwagon Road past Arbor Lodge, Nebraska City High School, Steinhart Park and Mayhew Cabin.

The trail would be approximately two miles long and eight feet wide.

Phase one of the project, an eight-foot wide concrete tail, is proposed from the walking bridge in Steinhart Park to the trailhead at the public properties building near 19th Street and Fourth Corso.

The 2,400 foot trail will pass Mayhew Cabin, the Woodmen of the World camp, fishing ponds and ball diamonds.

The city has received grants for construction of phase one. Scott Bovick, city administrator, said the city has been approved for a $150,000 grant from the Recreational Trails Development Assistance Program of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Bovick said the city has also applied for a $24,500 grant from the Nemaha Natural Resources District Urban Special Projects fund.

After subtracting the financial assistance received in grant funds, Bovick said the cost to the city for phase one of the project would be between $15,000 and $20,000.

Preliminary engineering for the project will begin this summer. Bovick said designs must be completed and approved prior to the start of construction.

Should the designs be completed and approved in time, Bovick said construction could begin in September of 2007. Delays in that process, Bovick said, could push the start of construction to the spring of 2008 due to weather concerns.

Bovick said the city will continue to pursue grant funds to be used toward completing additional phases of the trail project.

 

Wildwood Golf Course

Wildwood Golf Course will open the 2007 season with a new superintendent and new membership options.

The Nebraska City municipal nine-hole course announced the hiring of Mike West, a 1998 graduate of Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca, as the new superintendent last fall.

Course Pro Kevin Cappen said West is very knowledgeable and added that he is looking forward to the opening of the season.

“This is the most excited I have been for a season opening in quite some time,” Cappen said.

Course officials are hoping for improved conditions at the nine-hole facility this season. A new irrigation system was installed two years ago and staff has been working to maximize its use to better the course.

Cappen said it takes time to make adjustments in the set up of the irrigation system and voiced confidence that the course would be in better shape for 2007.

In other news at the course, Cappen said Wildwood is adding options to its already extensive membership structure.

Wiildwood has been offering single memberships, family memberships, students and college students. In addition, this season Cappen said membership discounts would be available for seniors, both in single and couples memberships.

“It’s a great golf course for seniors,” Cappen said. “It’s a great golf course for anybody.”

 

Softball field

The Nebraska City Softball Association completed work on a new fast-pitch field at the Nebraska City Softball Complex in the fall of 2006. Funding for the project came from the city as well as from private contributors.

The fast pitch field features new concrete dugouts, fencing, bullpens and a fast drying infield. New bleachers and a scoreboard are also planned for the field. City Administrator Scott Bovick said the city will apply to the Kansas City Royals Foundation for assistance.